Abstract
Cellulase production is an essential and important step in the biomass-to-ethanol process. This chapter reviews the current cellulase production technology with an emphasis on realistic processes in relation to ethanol production. The field of cellulase biosynthesis is dominated by the fungus Trichoderma reesei, and a first-generation plant would potentially employ T. reesei cellulases. Cellulaseproduction with T. reesei using soluble and insoluble substrates is discussed, emphasizing the most relevant lignocellulosic substrates. The published data are presented to illustrate bench-scale data translation and scale-up issues. Engineering aspects such as mode of operation, oxygen transfer, and reactor configuration are covered. Enzymatic activity of 20 filter paper units (FPU)/mL andvolumetric productivity of 200 FPU/L.h are considered as economic threshold values. Achieving these values with lignocelluosic substrates using realistic process conditions will require us to advance our understanding of cellulase biosynthesis and secretion, recombinant DNA microorganism development, and fermentation engineering. /such advances may also allow leapfrogging to higher levels andfurther reduce the cost of enzyme production.
Original language | American English |
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Title of host publication | Handbook on Bioethanol: Production and Utilization |
Editors | C. E. Wyman |
Pages | 213-252 |
State | Published - 1996 |
NREL Publication Number
- NREL/CH-423-6949