Sunday, May 4, 2008
3-29

STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF RESIDUES FROM ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS

Anikó Várnai1, Matti Siika-aho2, and Liisa Viikari1. (1) Department of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, FIN-00014, Helsinki, Finland, (2) Biotechnology, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, P.O. Box 1000, FIN-02044 VTT, Espoo, Finland

Fuels from lignocellulose biomass have a high potential to reduce green house gas emissions, and hence are important means to fulfil the road transport CO2 emissions targets. An increasingly important aspect is to utilize wastes and raw materials which do not compete with food production. Advanced conversion technologies are, however, needed to produce biofuels from a wider range of resources, including lignocellulosic biomass. The major obstacles in the enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulose into sugars are related to the recalcitrance and complex structure of the raw material itself, posing a scientific challenge and opportunity for biotechnical development.

The role of hemicellulose and lignin in the complete hydrolysis of lignocellulosic substrates is still not fully understood. To reduce the overall amount and costs of enzymes, the potential bottlenecks decreasing the enzymatic hydrolysis rate should be identified. Various enzymes can be used to enhance the conversion by hydrolyzing or modifying the residual polymers in the matrix.

To understand the disassembling mechanisms of lignocellulose components, the limiting factors in the conversion of carbohydrate polymers into sugars were studied by characterization of the substrates. After enzymatic hydrolysis with the well characterized T. reesei cellulolytic system, modifications in the chemical composition and structures of the hydrolysis residue were followed. These analyses included various chemical and spectroscopic methods, combined with enzymatic and chemical treatments. The results will help to develop improved enzymes required to overcome the bottlenecks in the hydrolysis of recalcitrant plant biomass.


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