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Continuous Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Lignocellulosic Biomass with Simultaneous Detoxification and Enzyme Recovery

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Abstract

Recovering hydrolysis enzymes and/or alternative enzyme addition strategies are two potential mechanisms for reducing the cost during the biochemical conversion of lignocellulosic materials into renewable biofuels and biochemicals. Here, we show that enzymatic hydrolysis of acid-pretreated pine wood with continuous and/or fed-batch enzyme addition improved sugar conversion efficiencies by over sixfold. In addition, specific activity of the hydrolysis enzymes (cellulases, hemicellulases, etc.) increased as a result of continuously washing the residual solids with removal of glucose (avoiding the end product inhibition) and other enzymatic inhibitory compounds (e.g., furfural, hydroxymethyl furfural, organic acids, and phenolics). As part of the continuous hydrolysis, anion exchange resin was tested for its dual application of simultaneous enzyme recovery and removal of potential enzymatic and fermentation inhibitors. Amberlite IRA-96 showed favorable adsorption profiles of inhibitors, especially furfural, hydroxymethyl furfural, and acetic acid with low affinity toward sugars. Affinity of hydrolysis enzymes to adsorb onto the resin allowed for up to 92 % of the enzymatic activity to be recovered using a relatively low-molar NaCl wash solution. Integration of an ion exchange column with enzyme recovery into the proposed fed-batch hydrolysis process can improve the overall biorefinery efficiency and can greatly reduce the production costs of lignocellulosic biorenewable products.

A semicontinuous process for the biochemical production of renewable products using detoxification and fed-batch enzyme addition/recycle can increase enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation efficiencies. Hydrolysis enzymes, inhibitors, sugars, and water can be separated and utilized as high-value steams within the process

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Acknowledgments

Financial support for R. Gurram was provided by the USDA NIFA, AFRI Competitive Grant No. 2010-65504-20372.

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  1. Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, 501 East Saint Joseph Street, Rapid City, SD, 57701, USA

    Raghu N. Gurram & Todd J. Menkhaus

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Gurram, R.N., Menkhaus, T.J. Continuous Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Lignocellulosic Biomass with Simultaneous Detoxification and Enzyme Recovery. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 173, 1319–1335 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-014-0873-7

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