Systems And Methods For Altering Rates Of Enzymatic Processes

A method for increasing the rate of hydrolysis of a polysaccharide comprising:

• providing a polysaccharide in an aqueous medium;
• mixing an enzyme and a polymer with the aqueous medium to form a substantially homogeneous mixture of the enzyme, the polymer, and the polysaccharide in the aqueous medium;
• and
• reacting the enzyme with the polysaccharide in the presence of the polymer to convert at least a portion of the polysaccharide into glucose,
• wherein the reaction rate of the enzyme with the polysaccharide in the presence of the polymer is greater than the reaction rate of the enzyme with the polysaccharide in the absence of the polymer.

A system for polysaccharide catalysis, comprising:

• a reactor comprising a medium and an agitation element;
• and the medium comprising a polysaccharide, an enzyme specific for the polysaccharide, and a polymer;
• wherein the agitation element mixes the medium in the reactor to form a substantially homogenous mixture of the polysaccharide, the enzyme, and the polymer;
• and
• wherein the enzyme, in the presence of the polymer, catalyzes the hydrolysis of at least a portion of the polysaccharide during a residence time in the reactor.