Sunday, August 12, 2012
Columbia Hall, Terrace Level (Washington Hilton)
The large quantities of lignocellulosic biomass produced annually can potentially generate ethanol to supplement non-renewable fossil fuel. The first step in the processing of lignocellulosic biomass towards ethanol production is deconstruction of the biopolymer into simple fermentable sugars such as glucose and xylose. This process can be brought about by microbial cellulolytic and xylanolytic enzymes. In this study, several cellulolytic and xylanolytic fungi were isolated from organic matter rich soils. Two fungal isolates, FS5A and FS22A, were selected and further evaluated for production of cellulolytic and xylanolytic enzymes in liquid submerged culture. Ribosomal RNA gene sequence analysis revealed similarity to Trichoderma amazonicum (isolate FS5A) and to Fusarium oxysporum (isolate FS22A). Enzymes produced were then evaluated for saccharification of pretreated biomass. The best biomass saccharification (3.45g/L glucose and 1.21g/L xylose from 20g/L pretreated biomass) was displayed by strain FS22A after 72h. Results obtained are promising considering that crude culture filtrate was employed for saccharification without concentration. Studies are in progress to improve sugar yield.