Fed-Batch Enzymatic Hydrolysis With High-Solids Loading of Dilute Acid Pretreated Panicum Maximum

Enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass is a key point to have a high glucose titer previous alcoholic fermentation. Different strategies have been studied to degradated cellulose. Feeding pretreated lignocellulosic biomass and enzymes during time results a good option to increase glucose titer. In this work, the effect of high solids loading at enzymatic hydrolysis was studied. Panicum maximum, a forage grass, was used as pretreated lignocellulosic biomass. This is considered a potential biomass in Colombia with a dry biomass yield of 40 tons/ha/year and 7.4 million hectares available to biofuels. Dilute acid pretreatment conditions with high solids loading were determined in previous work. Enzymatic hydrolysis was done at 50^oC and a pH 4.8 during 48 hours. Different dosages of cellulases, β-glucosidase and pretreated biomass were done during time until reach 20% w/w. Glucose, cellobiose and xylose titers were determined by HPLC analysis. Dry weight biomass and enzymatic hydrolysis yield was calculated.