(US5711945-A)      Pulpwood or pulp is treated by inoculation with one of the bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus cereus, Pantoea (Enterobacter) agglomerans and Xanthomonas campestris.    Also new are:    (1) {Hmethod for selecting bacteria that degrade pitch in wood and pulpwood; and    (2) a method of reducing colour staining;    (3) {Ha method of reducing colour staining by staining fungi on wood comprising inoculating at least 25 % of the surface area of the structural wood or debarked log with a colour stain reducing amt. of a bacterium;    (4) {Ha method of reducing colour staining by staining fungi on wood cut from a log comprising inoculating at least 50% of the surface area of the structural wood with a bacterium;    (5) {H2the bacterium P. agglomerans NRRL B21509 removing pitch from pine,    (6) {Ha bacterium having all the identifying characteristics of B. cereus B21510 removing pitch from pine,    (7) {Ha bacterium having the identifying characteristics of P. fluorescens B21511 removing pitch from pine,    (8) a bacterium having the characteristics;    (9) P. fluorescens B21431 removing pitch from aspen;    (10) P. fluorescens B21432 removing pitch from loblolly pine;    (11) {HX. campestris B21430 or variants and mutants with same pitch degrading properties removing pitch from loblolly pine; and    (12) {Huse of a bacterium of Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus cereus, Enterobacter and Xanthomonas campestris for treating pulpwood or pulp.    USE -   The method is used to reduce the pitch content and to degrade the pit membrane of the pulp or wood used in mfg. cellulosic prods., also to reduce colour caused by staining fungi (claimed).    ADVANTAGE -   Treatment with bacteria:    (a) reduces the consumption of chlorine and/or energy;    (b) increases porosity of the wood;    (c) reduces total chemical cooking time; and/or    (d) reduces non-pulped wood chip rejects.    The method is effective on a variety of woods and pulps, does not require sterile conditions and is more flexible than known processes that use fungi.    (EP824617-A1)      Pulpwood or pulp is treated by inoculation with one of the bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus cereus, Pantoea (Enterobacter) agglomerans and Xanthomonas campestris.    Also new are:    (1) {Hmethod for selecting bacteria that degrade pitch in wood and pulpwood; and    (2) a method of reducing colour staining;    (3) {Ha method of reducing colour staining by staining fungi on wood comprising inoculating at least 25 % of the surface area of the structural wood or debarked log with a colour stain reducing amt. of a bacterium;    (4) {Ha method of reducing colour staining by staining fungi on wood cut from a log comprising inoculating at least 50% of the surface area of the structural wood with a bacterium;    (5) {Hthe bacterium P. agglomerans NRRL B21509 removing pitch from pine,    (6) {Ha bacterium having all the identifying characteristics of B. cereus B21510 removing pitch from pine,    (7) {Ha bacterium having the identifying characteristics of P. fluorescens B21511 removing pitch from pine,    (8) a bacterium having the characteristics;    (9) P. fluorescens B21431 removing pitch from aspen;    (10) P. fluorescens B21432 removing pitch from loblolly pine;    (11) {HX. campestris B21430 or variants and mutants with same pitch degrading properties removing pitch from loblolly pine; and    (12) {Huse of a bacterium of Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus cereus, Enterobacter and Xanthomonas campestris for treating pulpwood or pulp.    {U    USE -   U}    The method is used to reduce the pitch content and to degrade the pit membrane of the pulp or wood used in mfg. cellulosic prods., also to reduce colour caused by staining fungi (claimed).    {U    ADVANTAGE -   U}    Treatment with bacteria:    (a) reduces the consumption of chlorine and/or energy;    (b) increases porosity of the wood;    (c) reduces total chemical cooking time; and/or    (d) reduces non-pulped wood chip rejects.    The method is effective on a variety of woods and pulps, does not require sterile conditions and is more flexible than known processes that use fungi.    {UCLAIMED METHOD (1)U}    The bacteria selection comprises:    (i) isolating a first pitch-degrading bacterium from (pulp)wood;    (ii) culturing to determine required properties;    (iii) using to treat pulp or wood;    (iv) isolating a second bacterium isolated; and    (v) {Hgrowing to produce a pure culture from which a pure inoculum having the same desirable characteristics as the first bacterium is isolated.    {UPREFERRED PROCESSU}    The inoculum is in an amt. sufficient on bacterial growth from the inoculum to reduce the pitch content of the pulpwood, and the inoculated pulpwood is maintained under conditions allowing bacterial growth for a time sufficient to reduce the pitch content by the inoculated bacterial growth.    The inoculum is in an amt. sufficient to degrade the pit membrane of the pulpwood, and the inoculated pulpwood is maintained under conditions allowing bacterial growth for a time sufficient for degradation of the pit membrane, and reducing the pulpwood to a fibrous mass.    The inoculated pulp retains at least 60 wt.% of the original lignin content.    Unsterilised pulpwood is inoculated, and is pref. unsterilised refined pulpwood contg. inoculated refined pulpwood accumulated in a mass.    The refined pulpwood is esp. wood chips and the inoculum is applied by spraying of wood chips with th inoculum prior to accumulation of the wood chips in the mass.    The inoculum is obtd. from a biologically pure bacterial culture.    The bacteria pref. has at least the ability to degrade the pit membrane of unsterilised aspen possessed by the strain of NRRL Accession No. 21432.    To degrade pit membranes first stage mechanical pulp or (un)debarked timber or logs are pref. treated.    Bacterial incubation is pref. for 4-20 days.    Unsterilised pulpwood is inoculated, where the inoculated refined pulpwood is accumulated in a mass, the unsterilised refined pulpwood being wood chips, and the bacterium being a Bacillus cereus, or Enterobacter with the ability to reduce pitch on freshly harvested, unsterilised loblolly pine wood chips possessed by the bacterium of NRRL Accession No. B21510 or B21509 respectively.    Pulpwood for treatment is pine, aspen, oak, maple, hickory, birch, spruce or eucalyptus.    To reduce staining, logs with bark still on are treated with B. cereus or P. agglomerans, partic. at the ends and on exposed surfaces not later than 2 weeks after the timber is cut.    The inoculum is applied to a series of scoring marks made along the length of the log.    {UMATERIALSU}     A typical inoculum is 106 -1015 , (pref. 108 -1014), cells per 0.5 kg undried wt.    {UEXAMPLEU}     100 ml Inoculum of B21430 (1.96109cells/ml) were used to inoculate 500 g fresh, non-sterilised southern loblolly pine chips and the mixt. maintained for 14 days in a bag. The chips were dried and extracted with dichloromethane. Dichloromethane extractables (i.e. pitch) were 1.71%; compared with 3.13% for an aged control (non-sterile, no nutrient broth), 2.27% for a non-sterile control with the broth and 3.53% for starting material, i.e. the treatment reduced pitch    content by 51.5%. (STC)    (ZA9603755-A)      Pulpwood or pulp is treated by inoculation with one of the bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus cereus, Pantoea (Enterobacter) agglomerans and Xanthomonas campestris.    Also new are:    (1) {Hmethod for selecting bacteria that degrade pitch in wood and pulpwood; and    (2) a method of reducing colour staining;    (3) {Ha method of reducing colour staining by staining fungi on wood comprising inoculating at least 25 % of the surface area of the structural wood or debarked log with a colour stain reducing amt. of a bacterium;    (4) {Ha method of reducing colour staining by staining fungi on wood cut from a log comprising inoculating at least 50% of the surface area of the structural wood with a bacterium;    (5) {Hthe bacterium P. agglomerans NRRL B21509 removing pitch from pine,    (6) {Ha bacterium having all the identifying characteristics of B. cereus B21510 removing pitch from pine,    (7) {Ha bacterium having the identifying characteristics of P. fluorescens B21511 removing pitch from pine,    (8) a bacterium having the characteristics;    (9) P. fluorescens B21431 removing pitch from aspen;    (10) P. fluorescens B21432 removing pitch from loblolly pine;    (11) {HX. campestris B21430 or variants and mutants with same pitch degrading properties removing pitch from loblolly pine; and    (12) {Huse of a bacterium of Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus cereus, Enterobacter and Xanthomonas campestris for treating pulpwood or pulp.    {U    USE -   U}    The method is used to reduce the pitch content and to degrade the pit membrane of the pulp or wood used in mfg. cellulosic prods., also to reduce colour caused by staining fungi (claimed).    {U    ADVANTAGE -   U}    Treatment with bacteria:    (a) reduces the consumption of chlorine and/or energy;    (b) increases porosity of the wood;    (c) reduces total chemical cooking time; and/or    (d) reduces non-pulped wood chip rejects.    The method is effective on a variety of woods and pulps, does not require sterile conditions and is more flexible than known processes that use fungi.    {UCLAIMED METHOD (1)U}    The bacteria selection comprises:    (i) isolating a first pitch-degrading bacterium from (pulp)wood;    (ii) culturing to determine required properties;    (iii) using to treat pulp or wood;    (iv) isolating a second bacterium isolated; and    (v) {Hgrowing to produce a pure culture from which a pure inoculum having the same desirable characteristics as the first bacterium is isolated.    {UPREFERRED PROCESSU}    The inoculum is in an amt. sufficient on bacterial growth from the inoculum to reduce the pitch content of the pulpwood, and the inoculated pulpwood is maintained under conditions allowing bacterial growth for a time sufficient to reduce the pitch content by the inoculated bacterial growth.    The inoculum is in an amt. sufficient to degrade the pit membrane of the pulpwood, and the inoculated pulpwood is maintained under conditions allowing bacterial growth for a time sufficient for degradation of the pit membrane, and reducing the pulpwood to a fibrous mass.    The inoculated pulp retains at least 60 wt.% of the original lignin content.    Unsterilised pulpwood is inoculated, and is pref. unsterilised refined pulpwood contg. inoculated refined pulpwood accumulated in a mass.    The refined pulpwood is esp. wood chips and the inoculum is applied by spraying of wood chips with th inoculum prior to accumulation of the wood chips in the mass.    The inoculum is obtd. from a biologically pure bacterial culture.    The bacteria pref. has at least the ability to degrade the pit membrane of unsterilised aspen possessed by the strain of NRRL Accession No. 21432.    To degrade pit membranes first stage mechanical pulp or (un)debarked timber or logs are pref. treated.    Bacterial incubation is pref. for 4-20 days.    Unsterilised pulpwood is inoculated, where the inoculated refined pulpwood is accumulated in a mass, the unsterilised refined pulpwood being wood chips, and the bacterium being a Bacillus cereus, or Enterobacter with the ability to reduce pitch on freshly harvested, unsterilised loblolly pine wood chips possessed by the bacterium of NRRL Accession No. B21510 or B21509 respectively.    Pulpwood for treatment is pine, aspen, oak, maple, hickory, birch, spruce or eucalyptus.    To reduce staining, logs with bark still on are treated with B. cereus or P. agglomerans, partic. at the ends and on exposed surfaces not later than 2 weeks after the timber is cut.    The inoculum is applied to a series of scoring marks made along the length of the log.    {UMATERIALSU}     A typical inoculum is 106 -1015 , (pref. 108 -1014), cells per 0.5 kg undried wt.    {UEXAMPLEU}     100 ml Inoculum of B21430 (1.96109cells/ml) were used to inoculate 500 g fresh, non-sterilised southern loblolly pine chips and the mixt. maintained for 14 days in a bag. The chips were dried and extracted with dichloromethane. Dichloromethane extractables (i.e. pitch) were 1.71%; compared with 3.13% for an aged control (non-sterile, no nutrient broth), 2.27% for a non-sterile control with the broth and 3.53% for starting material, i.e. the treatment reduced pitch    content by 51.5%. (STC)    (JP11505299-W)      Pulpwood or pulp is treated by inoculation with one of the bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus cereus, Pantoea (Enterobacter) agglomerans and Xanthomonas campestris.    Also new are:    (1) {Hmethod for selecting bacteria that degrade pitch in wood and pulpwood; and    (2) a method of reducing colour staining;    (3) {Ha method of reducing colour staining by staining fungi on wood comprising inoculating at least 25 % of the surface area of the structural wood or debarked log with a colour stain reducing amt. of a bacterium;    (4) {Ha method of reducing colour staining by staining fungi on wood cut from a log comprising inoculating at least 50% of the surface area of the structural wood with a bacterium;    (5) {Hthe bacterium P. agglomerans NRRL B21509 removing pitch from pine,    (6) {Ha bacterium having all the identifying characteristics of B. cereus B21510 removing pitch from pine,    (7) {Ha bacterium having the identifying characteristics of P. fluorescens B21511 removing pitch from pine,    (8) a bacterium having the characteristics;    (9) P. fluorescens B21431 removing pitch from aspen;    (10) P. fluorescens B21432 removing pitch from loblolly pine;    (11) {HX. campestris B21430 or variants and mutants with same pitch degrading properties removing pitch from loblolly pine; and    (12) {Huse of a bacterium of Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus cereus, Enterobacter and Xanthomonas campestris for treating pulpwood or pulp.    {U    USE -   U}    The method is used to reduce the pitch content and to degrade the pit membrane of the pulp or wood used in mfg. cellulosic prods., also to reduce colour caused by staining fungi (claimed).    {U    ADVANTAGE -   U}    Treatment with bacteria:    (a) reduces the consumption of chlorine and/or energy;    (b) increases porosity of the wood;    (c) reduces total chemical cooking time; and/or    (d) reduces non-pulped wood chip rejects.    The method is effective on a variety of woods and pulps, does not require sterile conditions and is more flexible than known processes that use fungi.    {UCLAIMED METHOD (1)U}    The bacteria selection comprises:    (i) isolating a first pitch-degrading bacterium from (pulp)wood;    (ii) culturing to determine required properties;    (iii) using to treat pulp or wood;    (iv) isolating a second bacterium isolated; and    (v) {Hgrowing to produce a pure culture from which a pure inoculum having the same desirable characteristics as the first bacterium is isolated.    {UPREFERRED PROCESSU}    The inoculum is in an amt. sufficient on bacterial growth from the inoculum to reduce the pitch content of the pulpwood, and the inoculated pulpwood is maintained under conditions allowing bacterial growth for a time sufficient to reduce the pitch content by the inoculated bacterial growth.    The inoculum is in an amt. sufficient to degrade the pit membrane of the pulpwood, and the inoculated pulpwood is maintained under conditions allowing bacterial growth for a time sufficient for degradation of the pit membrane, and reducing the pulpwood to a fibrous mass.    The inoculated pulp retains at least 60 wt.% of the original lignin content.    Unsterilised pulpwood is inoculated, and is pref. unsterilised refined pulpwood contg. inoculated refined pulpwood accumulated in a mass.    The refined pulpwood is esp. wood chips and the inoculum is applied by spraying of wood chips with th inoculum prior to accumulation of the wood chips in the mass.    The inoculum is obtd. from a biologically pure bacterial culture.    The bacteria pref. has at least the ability to degrade the pit membrane of unsterilised aspen possessed by the strain of NRRL Accession No. 21432.    To degrade pit membranes first stage mechanical pulp or (un)debarked timber or logs are pref. treated.    Bacterial incubation is pref. for 4-20 days.    Unsterilised pulpwood is inoculated, where the inoculated refined pulpwood is accumulated in a mass, the unsterilised refined pulpwood being wood chips, and the bacterium being a Bacillus cereus, or Enterobacter with the ability to reduce pitch on freshly harvested, unsterilised loblolly pine wood chips possessed by the bacterium of NRRL Accession No. B21510 or B21509 respectively.    Pulpwood for treatment is pine, aspen, oak, maple, hickory, birch, spruce or eucalyptus.    To reduce staining, logs with bark still on are treated with B. cereus or P. agglomerans, partic. at the ends and on exposed surfaces not later than 2 weeks after the timber is cut.    The inoculum is applied to a series of scoring marks made along the length of the log.    {UMATERIALSU}     A typical inoculum is 106 -1015 , (pref. 108 -1014), cells per 0.5 kg undried wt.    {UEXAMPLEU}     100 ml Inoculum of B21430 (1.96109cells/ml) were used to inoculate 500 g fresh, non-sterilised southern loblolly pine chips and the mixt. maintained for 14 days in a bag. The chips were dried and extracted with dichloromethane. Dichloromethane extractables (i.e. pitch) were 1.71%; compared with 3.13% for an aged control (non-sterile, no nutrient broth), 2.27% for a non-sterile control with the broth and 3.53% for starting material, i.e. the treatment reduced pitch    content by 51.5%. (STC)