Conversion of cellulosic materials to sugar

Patent · Tue Aug 03 04:00:00 EDT 1976

OSTI ID:7228255

Wilke, C R; Mitra, G

A process is claimed for the production of sugar, mainly glucose, by the enzymatic degradation of cellulosic materials, particularly cellulosic wastes, which comprises hydrolyzing the cellulosic material in the presence of cellulase enzyme to produce a sugar solution and recovering from the hydrolysis products a major proportion of the cellulase enzyme used in the hydrolysis reaction for re-use. At least a portion of the required makeup cellulase enzyme is produced in a two-stage operation wherein, in the first stage, a portion of the output sugar solution is utilized to grow a cellulase-secreting microorganism, and, in the second stage, cellulase enzyme formation is induced in the microorganism-containing culture medium by the addition of an appropriate inducer, such as a cellulosic material. Cellulase enzyme is precipitated from the culture liquid by the addition of an organic solvent material, such as a low molecular weight alkyl ketone or alcohol, and the cellulase precipitate is then fed to the hydrolysis reaction.

• Assignee: Energy Research and Development Administration
• Patent Number(s): US 3972775
• OSTI ID: 7228255
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
140504* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Biomass Production & Conversion-- (-1989)
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320305 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Industrial Waste Management
AGRICULTURAL WASTES
ALDEHYDES
CARBOHYDRATES
CELLULOSE
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS
GLUCOSE
HEXOSES
HYDROLYSIS
LYSIS
MONOSACCHARIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLYSACCHARIDES
SACCHARIDES
SOLID WASTES
SOLVOLYSIS
SYNTHESIS
WASTES
WOOD WASTES