Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Cellulose

섬유소(纖維素)의 당화(糖化)

Since cellulose is the only organic material that is annually replenishable in very large quantities, we must explore ways to utilize it as a source of energy, food and chemicals. For the utilization of this resource, it is first enzymatic hydrolyzed to glucose, then the glucose can be used as a food, converted single cell protein by microorganism, fermented to clean burning fuel and other chemicals. Cellulolytic enzyme, cellulase, consists of two or three major components, $C_1-cellulase$, $C_x-cellulase$ and ${\beta}-glucosidase$. $C_x-cellulase$ are fairly common but $C_1-cellulase$ are quite rare. Trichoderma viride is the best source of active cellulose, especially $C_1-enzyme$. Saccharification rate of cellulose in greatly influenced by the degree of crystallinity and extent of lignification. But by the pretreatment the substrate with cellulose swelling agent, delignifying reagent and physical treatment, the degree of saccharification is enhanced. Thus, glucose syrups of 2 to 10% concentration are realized from milled newspaper. The enzymatic hydrolysis of such energy rich material, such as cellulose, to glucose is technically feasible and practically achievable on a very large scale.