Treatment of cork with a phenol oxidizing enzyme

US6152966A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Novo Nordisk A/S · DK

Inventors

• Lars CONRAD · Stuttgart, DE
• Wolf Rudiger Sponholz · Eltville am Rhein, DE
• Otto Berker · Innsbruck, AT

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 21, 1999
• Grant date: Nov 28, 2000
• Expiry date: Apr 21, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B67B1/03
• WIPO field: Machine tools
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Disclosed is a process for preparing cork articles, in particular cork stoppers for wine bottles, which involves treating cork with a phenol oxidizing enzyme. Preferred phenol oxidizing enzymes are laccase, peroxidase, catechol oxidase, and o-aminophenol oxidase. The treatment with a phenol oxidizing enzyme reduces the characteristic cork taint/astringency which is frequently imparted to the bottled wine.