Kinetics of the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose

A preliminary kinetic study of the enzymatic hydrolysis of raw cotton fiber s using a commercial cellulase mixture was performed. The reaction was exec uted at different flow rates of the reaction mixture through a reactor. Pro duct formation time curves, soluble protein adsorption, rate of hydrolysis, and percent degree of hydrolysis during the course of hydrolysis were meas ured. The hydrolysis rate was found to have declined drastically during the initial hydrolysis period. Probable factors causing the reduction in the h ydrolysis rate are elucidated.. The results of this study may be useful in optimizing enzymatic processing of cellulosic substrates.