Removal of lignin and reuse of cellulases for continuous saccharification of lignocelluloses

Biotechnol Bioeng. 1988 Sep 20;32(7):897-902. doi: 10.1002/bit.260320708.

Abstract

Method of the removal of lignin and reuse of cellulases for a continuous saccharification of lignocelluloses were investigated. Only lignin could be separated from hydrolysates by differences in the settling velocity; it was removed from the saccharification process by flocculation with chitosan without loss of cellulases. The ultra-filtration membrane PM10 (Amicon) could be used for recovery of cellulases, but the membrane UH-1 (Toyo Roshi) was better for this purpose, because no cellulases leaked from the membrane, and the amount of cellulase adsorbed to the membrane was less. The cellulases were inactivated by vigorous agitation of the solution in an ultra-filtration device. The loss of cellulase activity by such agitation increased with agitation time, but could be controlled by recovery at a low speed of agitation, so the cellulases could be reused.