Process for Production of Soluble Sugars from Biomass

摘要

The present invention provides a process for enzyme mediated hydrolysis of biomass for production of soluble sugars, wherein the said process comprises of steady addition of small portions of biomass to enzyme solution, enabling rapid solubilization of biomass. The process used for enzymatic saccharification allows for increased biomass loading, enzyme recycle and mitigation of substrate and product inhibitory effect. The recycling of unhydrolysed biomass along with soluble enzyme ensures complete reuse of the said enzyme for effective repeated hydrolysis thereby increasing the overall productivity of enzyme used.

主权项

1. A process for production of soluble sugars from biomass comprising:
a. preparing an enzyme solution with pH in the range of 4 to 6 in a reactor vessel at a temperature in the range of 40 to 60° C.; b. adding one lot of biomass with holocellulose % in the range of 70 to100% and moisture content in the range of 10 to 80% (w/w) to the enzyme solution in step (a), while maintaining the pH in the range of 4 to 6 and temperature of 40 to 60° C., to obtain a initial reaction mixture containing a predetermined biomass:enzyme ratio, wherein the predetermined biomass:enzyme ratio in the initial reaction mixture is in the range of 1:104to 1:106(Kg of biomass/FPU of enzyme); c. adding remaining biomass in lots repeatedly as in step (b) over a period of 30 to 90 mins to obtain solid loading of 10 to 30% in the final reaction mixture, wherein biomass:enzyme ratio is maintained in the range of 1:103 to 1:105 (Kg of biomass/FPU of enzyme); d. allowing the final reaction mixture to react for an additional 5 to 120 mins to obtain a biomass hydrolysate, wherein 40 to 80% solubilization of biomass is achieved; e. separating solid-liquid contents of the biomass hydrolysate from step (d) to obtain a filtrate comprising soluble sugars and enzyme, and a residue of unhydrolysed biomass and adsorbed enzyme; f. separating the soluble enzyme from soluble sugars present in the filtrate; and g. recycling the residue from step (e) and the separated soluble enzyme from step (f) to step (b) to maintain the predetermined biomass:enzyme ratio for production of soluble sugars.