Investigation on enzymatic hydrolysis of softwood-derived substrates

Erwin Schrödinger Fellowship J 1939 Investigation on enzymatic hydrolysis of softwood Ursula MAIS 08.05.2000 The main focus of my research will be to use novel pre and post treatment methods for the enzymatic hydrolysis of softwood-derived substrates that will: a) increase the accessibility of the cellulose to the enzymes, b) remove most of the lignin associated with softwood derived cellulose and, c) determine if the tight association of the enzymes with the substrate would provide a suitable material for recycling the substrate-bound cellulases after most of the cellulose has already been hydrolyzed. For example, most of the cellulose is rapidly hydrolyzed within 24 hours and a further 48-72 hours is required to hydrolyze the remaining 20-30% of the substrate. By recycling the recalcitrant residue, which has most of the added cellulases tightly associated with it, it should be possible to add fresh substrate, and through the redistribution of the cellulases maintain the logarithmic mode of hydrolysis. Previous work at the UBC lab has shown that this is possible on model substrates and hardwood derived residues. My project will determine if the same strategies can be used for softwoods, the predominant trees in the both Austria and Canada.