Synergistic effect of feruloyl esterase and cellulase in hydrolyzation of steam-exploded rice straw

Abstract:

Ferulic acid esterase (FAE) was used to hydrolyze feruloyl ester linkages between hemicellulose and lignin in natural lignocellulose, and the possibility of FAE accelerating cellulase to hydrolyze steam-exploded rice straw by breaking covalent linkages was studied. When the dosage of FAE was 240 mu/g substrate, the cellulose conversion rate and the weight-loss rate of insoluble substrate at 72 h were respectively 32.00% and 32.77%, more than without using FAE; Cellulose conversion rate and the weight-loss rate of insoluble substrate were respectively 29.85% and 32.48% with FAE (300 mu/g substrate) processing time of 120 min. By comparison of the accessibility and FT-IR spectra of lignocellulosic material treated by different enzyme methods, it indicated that FAE hydrolyzed some ester bonds within it, and improved the accessibility by over 50%. It is concluded that FAE and cellulase have great synergistic effect, and FAE can help cellulase hydrolyze natural lignocellulose and enhance hydrolytic efficiency.