Laccase from Pycnoporus cinnabarinus and phenolic compounds: Can the efficiency of an enzyme mediator for delignifying kenaf pulp be predicted?

In this work, kenaf pulp was delignified by using laccase in combination with various redox mediators and the efficiency of the different laccase–mediator systems assessed in terms of the changes in pulp properties after bleaching. The oxidative ability of the individual mediators used (acetosyringone, syringaldehyde, p-coumaric acid, vanillin and actovanillone) and the laccase–mediator systems was determined by monitoring the oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) during process. The results confirmed the production of phenoxy radicals of variable reactivity and stressed the significant role of lignin structure in the enzymatic process. Although changes in ORP were correlated with the oxidative ability of the mediators, pulp properties as determined after the bleaching stage were also influenced by condensation and grafting reactions. As shown here, ORP measurements provide a first estimation of the delignification efficiency of a laccase–mediator system.