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The research aims to produce a directly alkaline soluble cellulose, from which it would be possible to spin cellulosic fibres without any environmentally harmful impacts.

Cellulose is the most abundant biopolymer on earth, it is synthesised by all higher plants and a wide variety of other organisms. Cellulose as a raw-material is a non-toxic, harmless, biodegradable and recyclable. In spite of these good properties it is underused especially for producing fibres, films, water-soluble polymers and other chemicals. The use of cellulose for these applications is limited because of difficulties in processing it which is caused by its fibrillar structure and lack of solubility in common solvents. Some of the pollution caused by cellulose-based industries is a direct consequence. This pollution could be very much reduced by improving the reactivity of cellulose. The objective of this research is to develop an environmentally sound, enzyme-based method of activating cellulose to make it more reactive and directly alkali soluble (Celsol).

PAPERS

• Vehviläinen, M. and Nousiainen, P., Improving the solubility of enzyme-treated pulp for cellulosic fibre spinning, Akzo Nobel Surface Chemistry's Seminar: Cellulosic Man-made, Fibres in the new Millenium, 13-15 June 2000, Stenungsund, Sweden
  
• Rahkamo, L., Vehviläinen, M., Suortti, T., Viikari, L., Nousiainen, P. and Buchert, J. Modification of Dissolving Pulp by Hydrolysis With Cellulase Enzymes. 213th ACS National meeting, San Francisco, CA, April 13-17, 1997.
• Vehviläinen, M., and Nousiainen, P. Celsol - Modification of pine sulphate paper grade pulp with Trichoderma reesei cellulases for fibre spinning, Akzo Nobel viscose Chemistry's Seminar: Cellulosic Man-made fibres, Singapore, April 22-24, 1997, 11 pp.
• Rahkamo, L., Viikari, L., Buchert, J., Vehviläinen, M., and Nousiainen, P. Enzymatically solubilized dissolving pulp for manufacture of cellulosic fibres, AATCC's 1996 International Conference & Exhibition in Nashville, Sept. 15-18, 1996.
• Rahkamo, L., Siika-Aho, M., Vehviläinen, M., Dolk, M., Viikari, L., Nousiainen, P. and Buchert, J. Modification of hardwood dissolving pulp with purified Trichoderma reesei cellulases, Cellulose, 3, 153-163, 1996.
• Vehviläinen, M., Nousiainen, P., and Struszczyk, H. Celsol - Biotransformation of cellulose, Proceedings of The Textile Institute's 77th World Conference, Tampere Hall, Tampere, Finland, May 21-24, 1996, pp.349-354.
• Rahkamo, L., Viikari, L., Buchert, J., Dolk, M., Vehviläinen, M. and Nousiainen, P. 1996. Modification of Dissolving Pulp with Cellulases. Proceedings of The Textile Institute's 77th World Conference, Tampere Hall, Tampere, Finland, May 21-24, 1996, pp. 373-374.
• Matero, M., Nousiainen, P., Struszczyk, H., Ciechanska, D, Wawro, D., and East, G., Celsol - Biotransformation of cellulose for fibre spinning in The Chemistry and Processing of Wood and Plant Fibrous Materials, ed. J.F.Kennedy, Woodhead Publishing Limited, Cambridge, England, 1996.
• Nousiainen, P., Matero, M., Struszczyk, H. and East, G., Direct soluble cellulose of CELSOL: New basis for films and fibres. International Symposium on Fiber Science and Technology, Yokohama, Japan, Oct. 26-28 1994, 10 pp.
• Nousiainen, P., Matero, M., Struszczyk, H. and East, G. Direct soluble cellulose of Celsol: New basis for films anf fibres, Akzo Nobel Viscose Chemistry Seminar: Challenges in Cellulosic Man-made Fibres, Stockholm, Sweden, May 30 - June 3, 1994.
• Struszczyk, H., Nousiainen, P., Ciechanska, D., Wawro, D., and Matero, M. Direct soluble cellulose of Celsol: properties and behaviour, Cellucon conference, Lund, Sweden, June 3-6, 1993.