Review: Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Cellulosic Biomass
Biological conversion of cellulosic biomass to fuels and chemicals offers the high yields to products vital to economic success and the potential for very low costs. Enzymatic hydrolysis that converts lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars may be the most complex step in this process due to substrate-related and enzyme-related effects and their interactions. Although enzymatic hydrolysis offers the potential for higher yields, higher selectivity, lower energy costs, and milder operating conditions than chemical processes, the mechanism of enzymatic hydrolysis and the relationship between the substrate structure and function of various glycosyl hydrolase components are not well understood. Consequently, limited success has been realized in maximizing sugar yields at very low cost. This review highlights literature on the impact of key substrate and enzyme features that influence performance to better understand fundamental strategies to advance enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic biomass for biological conversion to fuels and chemicals. Topics are summarized from a practical point of view including characteristics of cellulose (e.g., crystallinity, degree of polymerization, and accessible surface area) and soluble and insoluble biomass components (e.g., oligomeric xylan, lignin, etc.) released in pretreatment, and their effects on the effectiveness of enzymatic hydrolysis. We further discuss the diversity, stability, and activity of individual enzymes and their synergistic effects in deconstructing complex lignocellulosic biomass. Advanced technologies to discover and characterize novel enzymes and to improve enzyme characteristics by mutagenesis, post-translational modification, and over-expression of selected enzymes and modifications in lignocellulosic biomass are also discussed.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 1047999
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-80964; BM0101020; TRN: US201216%%616
- Journal Information:
- Biofuels, Vol. 2, Issue 4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
BIOMASS
CELLULOSE
ECONOMICS
ENERGY ACCOUNTING
ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS
ENZYMES
GLYCOSYL HYDROLASES
LIGNIN
MODIFICATIONS
MUTAGENESIS
PERFORMANCE
POLYMERIZATION
SACCHARIDES
SACCHAROSE
STABILITY
SUBSTRATES
SURFACE AREA
cellulose
lignocellulosic biomass
cellulases
genomics
glycosyl hydrolase
homologous and heterologous expression
enzymatic hydrolysis
lignin
pretreatment
proteomics