Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Cellulose for Ethanol Production: Fundamentals, Optimal Enzyme Ratio, and Hydrolysis Modeling

Cellulose hydrolysis during bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass requires the use of strong acids or synergistic action of several cellulase enzymes. The high cost of cellulase enzymes is considered as the big hurdle in the commercialization success of the process. This chapter provides the basics of cellulose structure, the mechanism of the synergistic action of enzymatic hydrolysis, and the factors affecting enzymatic hydrolysis. Synthetic enzyme mixtures, a novel approach to reduce the overall enzyme cost, is discussed in the chapter. The chapter also provides an overview of the various approaches used to model enzymatic hydrolysis, along with their major assumptions and limitations.