Relative Merits of Hydrolysis Schemes
Acid hydrolysis is fast and much simpler. Yields tended to be only about 50% of theoretical, but better
process design is leading to upwards of 80%.
Drawbacks:
-
byproducts (rearranged sugar
structures) ferment badly and may hinder glucose fermentation
-
messy inorganic waste, mostly from neutralization
of acid
Enzymatic hydrolysis almost 100% with large excess
of enzyme in several days compared to minutes for acidic hydrolysis. Practical yield is about 85%.
Drawbacks:
enzymes expensive to buy, make your own
up to 10% of biomass feedstock used for fermentation that produces
enzymes
making of enzymes and hydrolysis step both easily contaminated, thus very
expensive equipment and good aseptic techniques required.
N E X T
Slide List