ENZYMATIC SACCHARIFICATION OF SUGAR BEET PULP: THE EFFECTS OF ADDITIONAL GLUCOSE ON THE DIGESTION OF SUGAR BEET PULP BY SEVERAL COMMERCIAL ENZYMES

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to determine if adding glucose to an enzymatic hydrolysis reaction will inhibit the pectinolytic and/or arabinan-degrading enzymes used to breakdown pectin found within sugar beet pulp. The complex polysaccharides found within pulp make second generation biofuel production from plant biomass difficult. To economically produce biofuels, the breakdown of complex polysaccharides must be sped up to allow for competitive biofuel prices. To test for inhibition, glucose was added to enzymatic hydrolysis reactions; a total of three treatments and one control were completed per trial. Samples of digested pulp were analyzed using a DNS assay in order to measure the total soluble, reducing sugars within each sample. Results show that a negative feedback inhibition circuit exists. The production of glucose by cellulases could inhibit the saccharification reactions. This finding has significant implications for developing efficient enzymatic saccharification of sugar beet pulp, and possibly other bio fuel sources.