Enzymatic extracts from Colombian fungi strains for hydrolysis of lignocellulosic material from oil palm to obtain fermentable sugars

The enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulose for the production of fermentable sugars is a biotechnology strategy to the obtainment of second generation fuels. The enzymatic extracts are obtained mainly from fungi of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota Division. Trichoderma, Penicillium y Aspergillus are the genera most reported with cellulolytic activity.

The aim of this study was to obtain cellulolytic enzymatic extracts to obtain fermentable sugars by hydrolysis of empty fruit bunch from oil palm (EFB). Five enzymatic wild type strains of Trichoderma spp. was quantitatively selected by his cellulolytic activity at carboxymethil cellulose culture, with halos between 3 and 5 cm. Submerged fermentation was made to selected strains to the obtainment  of cellulolytic enzymatic extracts. The cellulolytic activity of enzymatic extracts was in average 0.20 UPF * ml⁻¹. Specific activities: exo-β- glucanasa, β- glucanase and endo β- glucosidase was measure, highlighting the endo β- glucosidase activity (150 U* L⁻¹). Finally was made hydrolysis of EFB using the enzymatic extracts. The extract EXTLMA 12 was selected by his highest hydrolytic capacity

It was made a design experiment for the EXTLMA12 extract and it was determined the best hydrolysis conditions: 25 ° C, pH 4.5, 1.8 mg * ml⁻¹. It was possible the obtainment of total sugars using 1.5 mg of EFB, with a ratio of 4:6 enzymatic extract- acetate buffer.