Abstract
In this study, fermentable sugars and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were co-produced from endoglucanase treatment of wood pulp, followed by acid hydrolysis. Enzymatic hydrolysis was performed using two endoglucanases differentiated by the presence or absence of a cellulose-binding domain (CBD). The enzyme with an intact CBD gave the higher glucan conversion (up to 14.1 ± 1.2 wt %) and improved the degree of crystallinity of the recovered wood pulp fiber (up to 83.0 ± 1.0%). Thus, this endoglucanase-assisted treatment successfully removed amorphous content from the original cellulosic feedstock. CNC recovery (16.9 ± 0.7 wt %) from the feedstock going into the acid hydrolysis was improved relative to untreated pulp (13.2 ± 0.6 wt %). The mass loss from enzymatic treatment did not cause a decrease in the CNC yield from the starting material. The characteristics of CNCs obtained through acid hydrolysis (with or without enzyme treatment of pulp) were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry as characterization techniques. The CNCs generated through acid hydrolysis of endoglucanase-treated wood pulp displayed comparable properties relative to those generated using untreated pulp. Thus, endoglucanase treatment can enable co-production of CNCs and sugars for biofuel fermentation.
Highlights
IntroductionThe potential for the development of nanomaterials from the forest sector has become apparent and achievable
Over the last decade, the potential for the development of nanomaterials from the forest sector has become apparent and achievable
Endoglucanases with (Endo-CBD+) and without (Endo-CBD−) a Endoglucanases were selected used to selectively digest amorphous wood pulp without cellulose-binding domain were for enzymatic hydrolysis.regions
Summary
The potential for the development of nanomaterials from the forest sector has become apparent and achievable. The market demand for some traditional forest products, such as pulp and paper, has greatly declined [1]. The production of high-performance nanomaterials provides opportunities for the development of more valuable forestry products to sustain the forest-based economy [2]. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are nanomaterials that are derived from the most abundant renewable polymer resource—cellulose [3]. Cellulose can be isolated from wood by a kraft pulping process [4]. CNCs are formed from the elementary building blocks of highly ordered crystalline cellulose with lengths and widths in the nanoscale range [5]. CNCs have very high tensile strength, axial Young’s modulus, and are potentially
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