Improvement of saccharification and fermentation by removal of endogenous chemicals from pretreated lignocellulosic biomass

Enzymatic hydrolysis from lignocellulosic biomass requires the addition of large amounts of cellulase. Major cellulase inhibitors, such as phenolic substances are thought to inhibit saccharification. We tried to reduce using enzymatic amount during enzymatic saccharification, and improve enzymatic saccharification and fermentation with non-ionic surfactant. The hydrolysates were used for ethanol fermentaion of various yeasts. Enzymatic saccharification was improved 1.4-fold by coexistance of non-ionic surfactant after hydrolysis, and inhibition of cellulase activity was decreased by 60–95% compared to the control. When this hydrolysate was used for fermentation, ethanol yield was improved 2.2-fold and lactic acid by 1.3-fold compared to corresponding yields using normal hydrolysates. We concluded that coexistance of non-ionic surfactant during hydrolysis has potential for improving saccharification as well as improving ethanol and lactic acid fermentation.