Word: lignin
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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Books are decaying rapidly today because "a tree had more to it than a cotton ball," says Merrill-Oldam. The problem is that wood contains lignin, the substance that causes newsprint even today to decay and yellow within a matter of weeks if left...
...scientists had determined the problem and began treating the wood to remove the lignin, but in the process they often reintroduced other decants and acids. In the '50s and '60s, paper was sized-smoothed out for writing--with acidic salts--another decant. It was not until the 70s that mills were reengineered to manufacture alkaline paper, which, like paper made from cotton rags, has an extremely long life...
...Molecular biologist Manuel Raices helped develop a recombinant enzyme that dissolves dextran, a sticky substance that gums up the sugar-refining process. In tests conducted by local sugar mills, the enzyme reduced oil consumption up to 45%. Now Raices is working with Swedish researchers on an enzyme that digests lignin, a gluelike material that bedevils paper manufacturers...