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Title: Methods for degrading lignocellulosic materials

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1020254

The present invention relates to methods for degrading a lignocellulosic material, comprising: treating the lignocellulosic material with an effective amount of one or more cellulolytic enzymes in the presence of at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of a secondary alcohol ethoxylate, fatty alcohol ethoxylate, nonylphenol ethoxylate, tridecyl ethoxylate, and polyoxyethylene ether, wherein the presence of the surfactant increases the degradation of lignocellulosic material compared to the absence of the surfactant. The present invention also relates to methods for producing an organic substance, comprising: (a) saccharifying a lignocellulosic material with an effective amount of one or more cellulolytic enzymes in the presence of at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of a secondary alcohol ethoxylate, fatty alcohol ethoxylate, nonylphenol ethoxylate, tridecyl ethoxylate, and polyoxyethylene ether, wherein the presence of the surfactant increases the degradation of lignocellulosic material compared to the absence of the surfactant; (b) fermenting the saccharified lignocellulosic material of step (a) with one or more fermenting microorganisms; and (c) recovering the organic substance from the fermentation.

Research Organization:
Midwest Research Institute, Kansas City, MO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC36-98GO10337
Assignee:
Novozymes, Inc. (Davis, CA)
Patent Number(s):
7,943,350
Application Number:
11/821,438
OSTI ID:
1020254
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (6)

Biodegradation of Nonionic Surfactants and Effects of Oxidative Pretreatment journal June 1996
Effects of nonionic surfactant on enzymatic hydrolysis of used newspaper journal January 1992
Mechanism of surfactant effect in enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulose journal August 2002
Effect of a nonionic surfactant on Trichoderma cellulase treatments of regenerated cellulose and cotton yarns journal March 2002
Pretreatment of bagasse by nonionic surfactant for the enzymatic hydrolysis journal January 1994
Enhancement of enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose by surfactant journal November 1986

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