Development of a fluorescent protein dye tagging method (FPTM) for major polymer classes found in recycled fibers.

酶现在被认为是“绿色化学”的关键成分，特别是在纸浆和造纸领域。这种被称为纤维素酶的酶可以增加纸浆的滤水率，在提高机器生产率和降低干燥的能源成本方面具有积极的影响，这两者都减少了环境足迹。然而，纤维素酶也可能对纸张质量和强度产生负面影响，这可以通过使用额外的酶和减少纤维素酶的剂量来避免。控制滤水和强度对加拿大纸浆工业很重要，也是我们的合作伙伴加拿大巴克曼实验室的优先事项。在这个项目中，我们打算帮助我们的合作伙伴将其产品扩展到加拿大的一个主要市场--再生纸浆。我们将利用我们在蛋白质工程、酶学和光谱学方面的专业知识，开发一种创新方法，使我们能够直接和快速地表征纤维组成和聚合物表面分布。技术转让将遵循两条途径：首先，我们的合作伙伴将使用我们的创新和预测方法(FPTM)来优化酶组合，以适应不同客户的要求。然后，当我们开发这种方法时，将鉴定出一种允许最佳排水的酶成分。然后，巴克曼将在试点规模上测试这种成分。通过这些创新，巴克曼将有助于提高加拿大造纸商的竞争力，并有助于进一步减少其环境足迹。我们参与该项目的第二个工业合作伙伴是克鲁格。克鲁格将优先获得我们的配方和相关优势。魁北克-里维埃雷大学研究中心的好处包括在一个非常及时的部门(绿色化学、生物催化)加强了其对纸浆和造纸工业的贡献。该项目还将为研究生提供与充满活力的工业合作伙伴合作的机会，并学习将生物信息学、分子生物学和自动化用于现实生活中的产品开发。

Enzymes are now recognized as key ingredients in "green chemistry", particularly in the area of pulp and paper. The enzyme known as cellulase can increase the pulp drainage rate with positive consequences in terms of increasing machine productivity and decreasing the energy costs of drying, both of which reduce the environmental footprint. However, cellulases may also negatively impact both sheet quality and strength, which can be avoided by using additional enzymes in combination with a decreased dose of cellulase. Controlling drainage and strength is important for Canadian pulp industries and is a priority for our partner Buckman Laboratories of Canada. In this project we intend to help our partner expand its offering into recycled pulp, a major Canadian market. We will use our expertise in protein engineering, enzymology and spectroscopy to develop an innovative method allowing direct and quick characterization of fibre composition and polymer surface distribution. Technology transfer will follow two pathways: First, our innovative and predictive method (FPTM) will be used by our partner to optimize enzyme combinations adapted to different customers' requirements. Then, as we develop this method, an enzyme composition allowing for optimal drainage will be identified. This composition will then be tested at a pilot scale by Buckman. With such innovations, Buckman will contribute to increasing Canadian papermakers' competitiveness and help to further reduce its environmental footprint. Our second industrial partner involved in this project is Kruger. Kruger will have priority access to our formulations and related advantages. Benefits for Centre de recherche sur les matières lingo-cellulosiques at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières include the strengthening of its contribution to the Pulp and paper industry in an extremely timely sector (green chemistry, biocatalysis). This project will also provide an opportunity for graduate students to work in collaboration with a dynamic industrial partner, and learn to use bioinformatics, molecular biology and automation for real life product development.