Corn stover fractions and bioenergy

Information is presented on structure, composition, and response to enzymes of corn stover related to barriers for bioconversion to ethanol. Aromatic compounds occurred in most tissue cell walls. Ferulic acid esterase treatment before cellulase treatment significantly improved dry weight loss and release of phenolic acids and sugars in most fractions over cellulase alone. Leaf fractions were considerably higher in dry weight loss and released sugars with esterase treatment, but stem pith cells gave up the most phenolic acids. Results help identify plant fractions more appropriate for coproducts and bioconversion and those more suitable as residues for soil erosion control.     

Effects of sugar inhibition on cellulases and β-glucosidase during enzymatic hydrolysis of softwood substrates

A quantitative approach was taken to determine the inhibition effects of glucose and other sugar monomers during cellulase and β-Glucosidase hydrolysis of two types of cellulosic material: Avicel and acetic acid-pretreated softwood. The increased glucose content in the hydrolysate resulted in a dramatic increase in the degrees of inhibition on both β-Glucosidase and cellulase activities. Supplementation of mannose, xylose, and galactose during cellobiose hydrolysis did not show any inhibitory effects on β-Glucosidase activity. However, these sugars were shown to have significant inhibitory effects on cellulase activity during cellulose hydrolysis. Our study suggests that high-substrate consistency hydrolysis with supplementation of hemicellulose is likely to be a practical solution to minimizing end-product inhibition effects while producing hydrolysate with high glucose concentration.     

Die multikomponenten Formen von Cellulase (EC 3.2.1.4) ausAspergillus oryzae

The enzyme cellulase fromAspergillus oryzae was resolved into four multiple forms, using anion exchange chromatography on DEAE Sephadex A-50 and gel filtration on Sephadex G-75. The stages of fractionation were followed by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate strips. These enzyme forms are characterized by different enzyme activities and isoelectric points.

Herrn Univ.-Prof. Dr.Hans Tuppy zum 65. Geburtstag herzlichst gewidmet.     

The simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of pretreated woody crops to ethanol

Four promising woody crops (Populusmaximowiczii x nigra (NE388), P.trichocarpa x deltoides (Nll), P.tremuloides, and SweetgumLiquidambar styraciflua) were pretreated by dilute sulfuric acid and evaluated in the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process for ethanol production. The yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae was used in the fermentations alone, and in mixed cultures with β -glucosidase producingBrettanomyces dausenii. Commercial Genencor 150L cellulase enyme was either employed alone or supplemented with β- glucosidase. All SSFs were run at 37 …C for 8 d and compared to saccharifications at 45…C under the same enzyme loadings.S. cerevisiae alone achieved the highest ethanol yields and rates of hydrolysis at the higher enzyme loadings, whereas the mixed culture performed better at the lower enzyme loadings without β -glucosidase supplementation. The best overall rates of fermentation (3 d) and final theoretical ethanol yields (86–90%) were achieved with P.maximowiczii x nigra (NE388) and SweetgumLiquidambar styraciflua, followed by P.tremuloides and P.trichocarpa xdeltoides (N1l) with slightly slower rates and lower yields. Although there were some differences in SSF performance, all these pretreated woody crops show promise as substrates for ethanol production.     

Properties of a recombinant β-glucosidase from polycentric anaerobic fungus Orpinomyces PC-2 and its application for cellulose hydrolysis

A β-glucosidase (BglA, EC 3.2.1.21) gene from the polycentric anaerobic fungus Orpinomyces PC-2 was cloned and sequenced. The enzyme containing 657 amino acid residues was homologous to certain animal, plant, and bacterial β-glucosidases but lacked significant similarity to those from aerobic fungi. Neither cellulose- nor protein-binding domains were found in BglA. When expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the enzyme was secreted in two forms with masses of about 110 kDa and also found in two forms associated with the yeast cells. K _m and V _max values of the secreted BglA were 0.762 mM and 8.20 μmol/(min·mg), respectively, with p-nitrophenyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (pNPG) as the substrate and 0.310 mM and 6.45 μmol/(min·mg), respectively, for the hydrolysis of cellobiose. Glucose competitively inhibited the hydrolysis of pNPG with a K _i of 3.6 mM. β-Glucosidase significantly enhanced the conversion of cellulosic materials into glucose by Trichoderma reesei cellulase preparations, demonstrating its potential for use in biofuel and feedstock chemical production. Names are necessary to report factually on available data; however, the USDA neither guarantees nor warrants the standard of the product, and the use of the name by USDA implies no approval of the product to the exclusion of others that may be suitable.     

Enhanced glucose production from cellulose using coimmobilized cellulase and β-glucosidase

β-Glucosidase was covalently immobilized alone and coimmobilized with cellulase using a hydrophilic polyurethane foam (Hypol®FHP 2002). Immobilization improved the functional properties of the enzymes. When immobilized alone, the K_m for cellobiose of β-glucosidase was decreased by 33% and the pH optimum shifted to a slightly more basic value, compared to the free enzyme. Immobilized β-glucosidase was extremely stable (95% of activity remained after 1000 h of continuous use). Coimmobilization of cellulase and β-glucosidase produced a cellulose-hydrolyzing complex with a 2.5-fold greater rate of glucose production for soluble cellulose and a four-fold greater increase for insoluble cellulose, compared to immobilized cellulase alone. The immobilized enzymes showed a broader acceptance of various types of insoluble cellulose substrates than did the free enzymes and showed a long-term (at least 24 h) linear rate of glucose production from microcrystalline cellulose. The pH optimum for the coimmobilized enzymes was 6.0. This method for enzyme immobilization is fast, irreversible, and does not require harsh conditions. The enhanced glucose yields obtained indicate that this method may prove useful for commercial cellulose hydrolysis.     

Integrated production of ethanol fuel and protein from Coastal Bermudagrass

The herbaceous crops that may provide fermentable carbohydrates for production of fuels and chemicals also contain 10–20% protein. Protein coproduction with biomass-derived fuels and chemicals has important advantages: (1) food and fuel production can be integrated, and (2) protein is a high-value product that may significantly improve overall process economics. We report the results of an integrated approach to producing protein and fermentable sugars from one herbaceous species, Coastal Bermudagrass (CBG). The ammonia fiber explosion (AFEX) process makes possible over 90% conversion of cellulose and hemicellulose to simple sugars (about 650 mg reducing sugars/g dry CBG) at 5 IU cellulase/g vs < 20% conversion for untreated CBG. The AFEX treatment also improves protein extraction from CBG; over 80% protein recovery is possible from AFEX-treated CBG vs about 30% recovery from untreated CBG.     

Xylanolytic enzyme production by anAspergillus niger isolate

Production of xylanolytic enzymes by anAspergillus niger CCMI 850 isolate was investigated in batch cultures. The effect of the composition of a fermentation medium that did not include chemical inducers, on β-xylanase, β-xylosidase, α-l-arabinofuranosidase, and total cellulase activity was studied. With 4% xylan as the carbon source, about 65 U/mL of β-xylanase was obtained, whereas the total cellulase activity was undetectable, under the specified conditions. This β-xylanase activity represents the highest reported for a wild-type strain ofA. niger. The effect of pH and temperature on the activity of β-xylanase was studied. Partial characterization of the β-xylanase showed that with insoluble birchwood as substrate theK _m andV _max were 0.3 mM and 19 μmol/min, respectively. Aspects of using the crude β-xylanase preparation for applications in the pulp and paper industry were discussed.     

Enhancing the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic materials using simultaneous ball milling

One of the limiting factors restricting the effective and efficient bioconversion of softwood-derived lignocellulosic residues is the recalcitrance of the substrate following pretreatment. Consequently, the ensuing enzymatic process requires relatively high enzyme loadings to produce monomeric carbohydrates that are readily fermentable by ethanologenic microorganisms. In an attempt to circumvent the need for larger enzyme loadings, a simultaneous physical and enzymatic hydrolysis treatment was evaluated. A ball-mill reactor was used as the digestion vessel, and the extent and rate of hydrolysis were monitored. Concurrently, enzyme adsorption profiles and the rate of conversion during the course of hydrolysis were monitored. α-Cellulose, employed as a model substrate, and SO₂-impregnated steam-exploded Douglas-fir wood chips were assessed as the cellulosic substrates. The softwood-derived substrate was further posttreated with water and hot alkaline hydrogen peroxide to remove >90% of the original lignin. Experiments at different reaction conditions were evaluated, including substrate concentration, enzyme loading, reaction volumes, and number of ball beads employed during mechanical milling. It was apparent that the best conditions for the enzymatic hydrolysis of α-cellulose were attained using a higher number of beads, while the presence of air-liquid interface did not seem to affect the rate of saccharification. Similarly, when employing the lignocellulosic substrate, up to 100% hydrolysis could be achieved with a minimum enzyme loading (10 filter paper units/g of cellulose), at lower substrate concentrations and with a greater number of reaction beads during milling. It was apparent that the combined strategy of simultaneous ball milling and enzymatic hydrolysis could improve the rate of saccharification and/or reduce the enzyme loading required to attain total hydrolysis of the carbohydrate moieties.     

The role of ester groups in resistance of plant cell wall polysaccharides to enzymatic hydrolysis

Xylan backbones in native plant cell walls are extensively acety-lated. Previously, no direct investigations as to their role in cellulolytic enzyme resistance have been done, though indirect results point to their importance. An in vitro deesterification of aspen wood and wheat straw has been completed using hydroxylamine solutions. Yields of 90% acetyl ester removal for both materials have been accomplished, with little disruption of other fractions (i.e., lignin). Apparently, as the xylan becomes increasingly deacetylated, it becomes 5–7 times more digestible. This renders the cellulose fraction more accessible, and 2–3 times more digestible. This effect levels off near an acetyl removal of 75%, where other resistances become limiting.