BioPulping International Inc, a University of Wisconsin spin-off, specializes in the development and commercialization of energy saving technologies. BPI also provides consulting services to the pulp and paper industry nationwide. Biopulping is an industrial biotechnology that uses a type of natural fungus to convert wood chips to paper pulp, providing a solution to the problems of chemical and mechanical paper production. The fungus used in this process is Ceriporiopsis subvermispora, a white-rot basidiomycete that has ligninolytic activity. Lignin, along with cellulose, is a major polymeric component of wood that is rather refractory to biodegradation. It is degraded efficiently by only a small group of fungi. Biopulping uses fungi present in natural wood decay to alter the lignin in the cell walls of the wood, therefore "softening" the wood chips. Since the wood is already softened when it goes to the final steps to be made into paper, the remaining steps of the process require less energy and do not pollute the air since there is no need for chemicals. Biopulping reduces electrical energy needed by an average of 25%- 30%, saving $9-$20 per ton of pulp.
