Optimization of Alkaline and Dilute Acid Pretreatment of Agave Bagasse by Response Surface Methodology.

Utilization of lignocellulosic materials for the production of value-added chemicals or biofuels generally requires a pretreatment process to overcome the recalcitrance of the plant biomass for further enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation stages. Two of the most employed pretreatment processes are the ones that used dilute acid (DA) and alkaline (AL) catalyst providing specific effects on the physicochemical structure of the biomass, such as high xylan and lignin removal for DA and AL, respectively. Another important effect that need to be studied is the use of a high solids pretreatment (≥15%) since offers many advantaged over lower solids loadings, including increased sugar and ethanol concentrations (in combination with a high solids saccharification), which will be reflected in lower capital costs; however, this data is currently limited.

A bifunctional endoglucanase/endoxylanase from Cellulomonas flavigena with potential use in industrial processes at different pH.

Cellulomonas flavigena CDBB-531 was found to secrete a bifunctional cellulase/xylanase with a molecular mass of 49 kDa and pI 4.3. This enzyme was active on Remazol brilliant blue-carboxymethylcellulose (RBB-CMC) and Remazol brilliant blue-xylan (RBB-X).

Differential expression of cellulases and xylanases by Cellulomonas flavigena grown on different carbon sources.

The diversity of cellulases and xylanases secreted by Cellulomonas flavigena cultured on sugar cane bagasse, Solka-floc, xylan, or glucose was explored by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. C. flavigena produced the largest variety of cellulases and xylanases on sugar cane bagasse.