Optimization and Comparative Evaluation of Fungal Laccase-Based Biobleaching of Pineapple Leaf Pulp: Toward Sustainable Non-Wood Pulp Processing

Optimization and Comparative Evaluation of Fungal Laccase-Based Biobleaching of Pineapple Leaf Pulp: Toward Sustainable Non-Wood Pulp Processing | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Optimization and Comparative Evaluation of Fungal Laccase-Based Biobleaching of Pineapple Leaf Pulp: Toward Sustainable Non-Wood Pulp Processing Sri Harjati Suhardi, Dea Ashari, Hendro Risdianto, Mamat Kandar, and 2 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7890285/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Revision Version 1 posted 5 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The conventional chemical bleaching of pulp generates substantial environmental burdens due to toxic effluents and high chemical consumption. This study explores a sustainable alternative through the enzymatic biobleaching of pineapple leaf fibre (PALF) pulp using crude laccase extracted from Marasmiellus palmivorus , a white-rot fungus. The effects of enzyme dosage (1–10 U g⁻¹ pulp) and reaction time (2–10 h) on pulp quality were systematically optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Key pulp properties, including Kappa number, brightness, and intrinsic viscosity, were evaluated and compared to chemical bleaching using hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Results showed that laccase treatment reduced the Kappa number by up to 57% (to 3.91) and enhanced brightness by 29.5% ISO, achieving comparable delignification to H₂O₂ treatment (Kappa = 4.07). Although the effect of dosage and time on brightness and viscosity was not statistically significant (p > 0.05), enzyme dosage had a pronounced influence on lignin removal (p < 0.05). Enzymatic bleaching preserved cellulose integrity with only 22.5% viscosity loss, markedly lower than the 34% loss observed under chemical bleaching. Optimization predicted optimal conditions at 9.8 U g⁻¹ pulp and 2.1 h, balancing high delignification and minimal cellulose degradation. These findings demonstrate the potential of M. palmivorus laccase as an eco-friendly and efficient biocatalyst for partial or total replacement of chemicals in non-wood pulp bleaching, supporting the transition toward greener pulp industries. laccase enzymatic bleaching Marasmiellus palmivorus pineapple leaf fibre sustainable pulp Full Text Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Revision Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 19 Jan, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 02 Dec, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 28 Nov, 2025 First submitted to journal 27 Nov, 2025 Editorial decision: Major revisions 22 Oct, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7890285","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":554187051,"identity":"04870e7c-92b7-467a-a2ed-ac9a209f9fa5","order_by":0,"name":"Sri Harjati Suhardi","email":"","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3703-4506","institution":"Bandung Institute of Technology: Institut Teknologi Bandung","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Sri","middleName":"Harjati","lastName":"Suhardi","suffix":""},{"id":554187052,"identity":"7125fcfd-d7b2-4585-8ba1-85cd002d6be8","order_by":1,"name":"Dea 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This study explores a sustainable alternative through the enzymatic biobleaching of pineapple leaf fibre (PALF) pulp using crude laccase extracted from \u003cem\u003eMarasmiellus palmivorus\u003c/em\u003e, a white-rot fungus. The effects of enzyme dosage (1\u0026ndash;10 U g⁻\u0026sup1; pulp) and reaction time (2\u0026ndash;10 h) on pulp quality were systematically optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Key pulp properties, including Kappa number, brightness, and intrinsic viscosity, were evaluated and compared to chemical bleaching using hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Results showed that laccase treatment reduced the Kappa number by up to 57% (to 3.91) and enhanced brightness by 29.5% ISO, achieving comparable delignification to H₂O₂ treatment (Kappa\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4.07). Although the effect of dosage and time on brightness and viscosity was not statistically significant (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05), enzyme dosage had a pronounced influence on lignin removal (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). Enzymatic bleaching preserved cellulose integrity with only 22.5% viscosity loss, markedly lower than the 34% loss observed under chemical bleaching. Optimization predicted optimal conditions at 9.8 U g⁻\u0026sup1; pulp and 2.1 h, balancing high delignification and minimal cellulose degradation. These findings demonstrate the potential of \u003cem\u003eM. palmivorus\u003c/em\u003e laccase as an eco-friendly and efficient biocatalyst for partial or total replacement of chemicals in non-wood pulp bleaching, supporting the transition toward greener pulp industries.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Optimization and Comparative Evaluation of Fungal Laccase-Based Biobleaching of Pineapple Leaf Pulp: Toward Sustainable Non-Wood Pulp Processing","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-12-04 18:44:00","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7890285/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"","date":"2026-01-19T19:28:07+00:00","index":0,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-12-02T16:08:57+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-11-28T09:48:34+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Biotechnology Letters","date":"2025-11-27T22:30:42+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"decision","content":"Major revisions","date":"2025-10-22T09:46:40+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"biotechnology-letters","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"bile","sideBox":"Learn more about [Biotechnology Letters](https://www.springer.com/journal/10529)","snPcode":"10529","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/10529/3","title":"Biotechnology Letters","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"894f9e4d-d997-4482-922c-4293723d0ce7","owner":[],"postedDate":"December 4th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"in-revision","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-05-18T14:47:15+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-12-04 18:44:00","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7890285","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7890285","identity":"rs-7890285","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}