ANHYDROUS HYDROGEN-FLUORIDE SACCHARIFICATION OF LIGNOCELLULOSIC MATERIALS .2. ENZYMATIC SACCHARIFICATION OF HOLOCELLULOSE TREATED WITH ANHYDROUS HYDROGEN-FLUORIDE

Softwood and hardwood holocelluloses were treated with anhydrous hydro gen fluoride (HF) at 20-degrees-C for 0.5-1.5 hr to determine the cond itions suitable for pretreatment before enzymatic saccharification. Mo re than 80% of the holocelluloses were converted into water-soluble pr oducts by HF treatment. The products were a mixture of mono-, oligo- a nd polysaccharides. Most parts of the products were hydrolyzed to mono saccharides by commercial cellulase, alpha-amylase, glucoamylase, and a mixture of these enzymes. However, some oligosaccharides were not hy drolyzed completely by them. Methylation analysis showed that the olig osaccharides contained greatly branched sugars including 2,3,4,6-linke d hexose residues and so forth, some of which could not be hydrolyzed by the enzymes.