Xylanase assisted Elemental Chlorine Free bleaching of sarkanda (Saccharum munja roxb) pulp

Sarkanda soda anthraquinone pulp, prepared under optimized conditions (16 % alkali dose, 160 °C, 20 min, and 1:4 biomass-to-liquid ratio), was treated with 20 IU xylanase per gram of oven-dried pulp at pH 7, 40 °C, for 75 min. The enzymatic pre-bleaching process effectively reduced chemical bleaching agents by 30 % without compromising pulp brightness. Additionally, it significantly enhanced pulp strength, improving the burst, tear and tensile indexes, 27, 12 and 8 %, respectively, demonstrating its effectiveness on overall pulp quality. Beyond enhancing mechanical properties, xylanase-assisted bleaching contributed to environmental sustainability by reducing the biological oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand of the effluent by 28 % and 20 %, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of xylanase-assisted Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) bleaching as a sustainable, cost-effective alternative for the pulp and paper industry, reducing chemical use, improving pulp quality, and minimizing pollution.