Problems and challenges in the cellulose to cellulase fermentation

Abstract

In recent years there has been a marked interest in enzymatic saccharification of cellulose, particularly due to the availability of active cellulase from Trichoderma capable of extensive hydrolysis of insoluble cellulose. Several recent symposia have evaluated the process and examined the severe technical and economic constraints on it, including limited availability of suitable substrates, necessity of costly pretreatments, and high costs of the enzyme. Interest and research have, however, continued because cellulose is the only renewable resource available in large quantities. In this paper the authors discuss some of the constraints and problem areas of producing cellulase in quantity.