Although significant research on enzyme deinking has been conducted, one area where there is a fundamental lack of knowledge is the mechanism by which mixtures of cellulases and hemicellulases improve the deinking of repulped paper products. To elucidate this mechanism,, researchers used cotton fabrics instead of paper as the substrate for enzyme deinking, focusing on the effect of different processing conditions on the fiber surface. The results showed that cleavage of the cellulose polymers permits the deinking to occur. The accessibility of the enzymes to the cellulose polymer chains that bound the ink to the fiber surface was a critical factor in deinking. 24 refs.