BACKGROUND: Anionic pectic compounds in whitewater (the aqueous solution that drains from a wet sheet of paper as it is being formed) negatively impact the papermaking process as well as the product quality. In order to remove these substances, regenerated cellulose beads were prepared and used as a new carrier for commercially available pectinase via physical adsorption to treat whitewater. RESULTS: The optimum immobilization temperature, time and pH of the immobilized pectinase on regenerated cellulose beads were 20 degrees C, 2 h and 7.0, respectively, under which the enzyme showed high protein loading and enzymatic activity of 2.9 mg g(-1) and 178 U g(-1) of the immobilized biocatalyst, respectively. Compared with the free pectinase, the immobilized enzyme on regenerated cellulose beads showed higher thermo and pH stabilities. Furthermore, the immobilized pectinase showed good mechanical strength and high catalytic capability in lowering the cationic demand of whitewater. CONCLUSION: The preparation of immobilized enzyme on regenerated cellulose beads was simple, facile, cost effective and environmentally friendly. It was also demonstrated that the resultant pectinase thus obtained could potentially be utilized for treatment of whitewater in the papermaking industry due to its effectiveness in reducing cationic demand. (C) 2013 Society of Chemical Industry