Super-rapid enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose with supercritical water solubilization pretreatment

Supercritical water pretreatments of cellulose were conducted with a specia lly-designed flow type microreactor at 360 similar to 400 degreesC, 25 simi lar to 33 MPa and 0.1 similar to0.4 seconds. By the treatment of supercriti cal water (380 degreesC and 30 MPa), more than 70% of cellulose could be so lubilized in extremely short reaction times of 0.18 similar to0.28 seconds. Enzymatic reactivities for the solubilized cellulose and for the recrystal lized cellulose (cellulose II crystal) were measured. As a result, the enzy matic reactivity of the solubilized cellulose was about 13 times higher tha n that of original cellulose. The enzymatic reactivity of the recrystallize d cellulose was about 4 times higher. By this method, solubilized cellulose could be converted to glucose and cellobiose with the selectivity of 74 si milar to 84%.