Saccharification of microcrystalline cellulose by cellulase of Morchella conica mushroom mycelium in comparison with a commercial cellulase

A comparison was made of the hydrolysis of microcrystalline cellulose Avicel using the cellulolytic complex of the ascomycete Morchella conica and a commercial cellulase. An enzyme concentration of 1 U AVase mg −1 substrate gave the best results during the hydrolytic processes. At 24 h, the M. conica enzyme complex achieved 35.5% and the commercial cellulase 31·2% saccharification, with glucose 84·2% and 52% of the total reducing sugars liberated, respectively. The specific rates of hydrolyses were 0·77 and 0·14 h −1 for reducing sugars and 0·54 and 0·12 h −1 for glucose formation with M. conica and the commercial cellulase, respectively. At 96 h, the degree of saccharification reached 46% for M. conica and 49% for the commercial cellulase, with glucose 76·5% and 65·9% of the total reducing sugars liberated, respectively. Both the complexes were quite stable with a residual activity of 62% CMCase and 47% AVase for M. conica , and 74% CMCase and 57% AVase for the commercial cellulase at 96 h of hydrolysis. The qualitative analysis of the hydrolysis products by TLC indicated, for M. conica , an earlier appearance of cellobiose, which was quickly hydrolyzed to glucose.