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Characterization of acid catalytic domains for cellulose hydrolysis and glucose degradation
Author(s) -
Mosier Nathan S.,
Ladisch Christine M.,
Ladisch Michael R.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.10316
Subject(s) - cellobiose , hydrolysis , sulfuric acid , cellulose , chemistry , catalysis , organic chemistry , maleic acid , degradation (telecommunications) , carboxylic acid , cellulase , telecommunications , computer science , copolymer , polymer
Abstract Cellulolytic enzymes consist of a catalytic domain, a linking peptide, and a binding domain. The paper describes research on carboxylic acids that have potential as catalytic domains for constructing organic macromolecules for use in cellulose hydrolysis that mimic the action of enzymes. The tested domains consist of the series of mono‐, di‐, and tricarboxylic acids with a range of p K a 's. This paper systematically characterizes the acids with respect to hydrolysis of cellobiose, cellulose in biomass, and degradation of glucose and compares these kinetics data to dilute sulfuric acid. Results show that acid catalyzed hydrolysis is proportional to H + concentration. The tested carboxylic acids did not catalyze the degradation of glucose while sulfuric acid catalyzed the degradation of glucose above that of water alone. Consequently, overall yields of glucose obtained from cellobiose and cellulose are higher for the best carboxylic acid tested, maleic acid, when compared to sulfuric acid at equivalent solution pH. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 79: 610–618, 2002.