Abstract Corn fibers are a significant residue of agriculture due to the huge amounts, which has fueled interest in a more rational use of its components, particularly regarding hemicelluloses. The impact of hemicellulose redeposition on printer and writing (P&W) paper grade pulp properties are discussed in this paper. Xylans extracted from corn fibers (16.9 % xylans) by cold caustic extraction (CCE) were added to commercial brown pulps (eucalypt and pine) in the oxygen delignification (O-stage) and further bleached to 90 % ISO brightness. Hemicelluloses deposition occurred at variable degree (up to 7 % on pulp weight). Pulp bleachability was not impaired by xylan deposition for eucalypt and pine pulps. Xylan deposition onto fibers was more efficient in eucalypt pulp than pine. Pulp beatability and strength properties were improved by xylan deposition for P&W paper grades.