Optimization of lipase enzymes for environmentally friendly handling of stickies on recycled paper

Stickies are contaminants in recycled paper that often cause problems in paper making equipment.  Problems caused by stickies include the appearance of spots, holes and broken paper. The usual way to deal with these contaminants is a kneading machine which involves the surfactant. Aim: The enzymatic process is an environmentally friendly alternative way to deal with stickies. Research was conducted to determine the optimal ability of the lipase enzyme to degrade stickies and its impact on the physical properties of paper. Methods: The variation in lipase dosage used was 0.1%, 0.3%, and 0.5% with mixing times of 30 and 50 minutes. Result: The results showed that lipase could reduce the number of stickies with an optimum dose of 0.5% and a mixing time of 50 minutes. Conclusion: The use of lipase can increase the physical properties of recycled paper.