ENZYMATIC CONGLUTINATION OF CORK FRAGMENTS AND ENZYMATIC PROCESS FOR PREPARING CORK ARTICLES

摘要

The present invention relates to a process for preparing cork articles, which comprises the step of treating cork fragments with a phenol oxidising enzyme and subsequently pressing the treated cork fragments into the desired shape. The present invention also relates to a process for conglutinating cork fragments, which comprises treating the cork fragments with a phenol oxidising enzyme. Preferred phenol oxidising enzymes are laccase, peroxidase, catechol oxidase. The treatment with a phenol oxidising enzyme prevents the use of environmentally harmful binders.