Abstract
Five endophytic fungal strains isolated from Eucalyptus sp. and capable of producing laccase (Neofusicoccum luteum, Ulocladium sp., Pringsheimia smilacis, Hormonema sp., and Neofusicoccum australe) were used to pre-treat Eucalyptus globulus wood chips. After the fungal pre-treatment, chips were submitted to kraft or mechanical pulping.All the endophytic fungal strains provided higher delignification during kraft pulping than control sample. The highest increase was achieved by Hormonema sp. (26.7%), which also reduced the NaOH consumption by 11.6% and increased mechanical strength (increases in tensile, tear and burst indices of 28.4%, 15.6% and 43.9%, respectively).Regarding mechanical pulping, only N. australe was able to reduce the energy consumed during the process (8.4%). However, all pulps from fungal pre-treated chips showed higher refining degree and mechanical properties than the control pulp, which would probably allow a lower consumption of energy during mechanical pulping to achieve a specific refining degree. The best mechanical properties and the lowest kappa number were also found when Hormonema sp. was applied.
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