Biocatalysts: the greener alternativePros Cons• Biocatalysts, like laccases, are cheap and environmentally friendly. They serve multiple purposes, for example in delignification and biopulping. • Biocatalysts help in the pulp and paper industry by degrading starch to reduce viscosity, removing lignin, helping in paper sizing and coating. • Laccase in biopulping has shown reduced refining energy, increased mill efficiency in mechanical pulp production, improved paper strength properties, reduced pitch problems and improved yield1.• A study conducted by MetGen in 2000 showed that biocatalysts, particularly laccases, removed 90% of lignin and other unwanted substances1.• Biocatalysis The economic impact of the technology has the potential to reduce paper costs by 20 cents or more depending on growth of the market7. • Biocatalysis technology has a respective $10 billion market in four categories: refining, polymerization, chemicals and environment due to its growing demands3. • Current developments for bacterial production of biocatalysts will produce large quantities, reducing economic costs1.• Biocatalysts replace traditional paper production methods, avoiding harmful emissions such as hydrogen sulphide, sulfur dioxide and dioxins.• The consumption of elemental chlorine in The paper industry has been reduced from 340,000 to 30,000 tonnes thanks to biocatalysts.• Biocatalysts have shown potential in the deinking of paper, which can be extremely beneficial to the recycling industry1.• It is estimated that biocatalysts will accumulate 30% of the chemical business by 20506.• Biocatalysis has low specific activity, unstable at high temperatures and specific pH values, available for specific reactions,...... middle of paper...... epa.gov/compliance/assistance/sectors/pulp.html> .Hüsing, Bärbel . “The introduction of process-integrated biocatalysts in companies – Effects of dynamics in internal and external networks.” Modern biotechnology and the greening of industry. Np, January 1, 2000. Web. November 25, 2013. Gulder, Tanja . "Biocatalysis". Biocatalysis. Baran Group Meeting, July 11, 2009. Web. November 24, 2013. "C&EN: COVER STORY - BIOCATALYSIS." BIOCATALYSIS. Np, 1 May 2001. Web. 25 November 2013. Bolton, Tom and Clive Capps. “Chapter 5: Pulp and Paper Business.” Current practice in environmental reporting: The pulp and paper industry. 73. np: Woodhead Publishing Limited, 2000. Science Reference Center. Network. November 26. 2013.