Enzymatic Conversion of Xylan Residues from Dilute Acid-Pretreated Corn Stover

Abstract

Enzymatic conversion of oligomeric xylose and insoluble xylan remaining after effective pretreatment offers significant potential to improve xylan-to-xylose yields while minimizing yields of degredation products and fermentation inhibitors. In this work, a commercial enzyme cocktail is demonstrated to convert up to 70 % of xylo-oligomers found in dilute acid-pretreated hydrolyzate liquor at varying levels of dilution when supplemented with accessory enzymes targeting common side chains. Commercial enzyme cocktails are also shown to convert roughly 80 % of insoluble xylan remaining after effective high-solids, dilute acid pretreatment.