Cellulolytic enzymes as platform for efficient utilization of cellulosic biomass: Optimizing enzyme cocktails and hydrolysis process conditions

The aim of DSM’s advanced cellulosic enzyme technology is to enable the industry to diversify away from starch crops to lignocellulosic agricultural residues, unlocking the full potential of this abundant, sustainable type of feedstock. The key to fulfilling this promise is the development of technologies for the liberation of sugars from cellulosic biomass in a manner that is both cost-effective and compatible with fermentation processes downstream. While this opportunity has been recognized for many decades, the enzyme costs associated with feedstock hydrolysis had been prohibitive for commercial operations and had to be reduced by more than 10-fold.

 DSM’s team has taken multiple approaches to reach this ambitious cost reduction target and developed robust thermostable, acid-tolerant enzyme cocktails which will be offered, as On-Site Manufacturing (OSM) technology packages, to parties interested in building their own commercial plants. This technology is being rolled-out for the first time via the POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels joint venture, aiming to convert corn crop residue to cellulosic bio-ethanol. Operation of the joint venture’s commercial scale demonstration plant ‘Project LIBERTY’ in Emmetsburg, Iowa has started in 2014.

 Here we will highlight how combined efforts in enzyme discovery and development, enzyme cocktail optimization, fungal strain construction and high throughput fungal strain development, fermentation process optimization and hydrolysis process development are contributing to making lignocellulosic bioethanol a commercial reality TODAY.