EFFECT OF SURFACTANTS ON CELLULOSE HYDROLYSIS

The effect of surfactants on the heterogeneous enzymatic hydrolysis of Sigmacell 100 cellulose and of steam-exploded wood was studied. Certa in biosurfactants (sophorolipid, rhamnolipid, bacitracin) and Tween 80 increased the rate of hydrolysis of Sigmacell 100, as measured by the amount of reducing sugar produced, by as much as seven times. The hyd rolysis of steam-exploded wood was increased by 67% in the presence of sophorolipid. At the same time, sophorolipid was found to decrease th e amount of enzyme adsorbed onto the cellulose at equilibrium. Sophoro lipid had the greatest effect on cellulose hydrolysis when it was pres ent from the beginning of the experiment and when the enzyme/cellulose ratio was low. (C) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.