Lignin-blocking treatment of biomass and uses thereof
AssigneeTrustees of Dartmouth College
InventorsBin Yang, Charles E. Wyman
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Abstract
Disclosed is a method for converting cellulose in a lignocellulosic biomass. The method provides for a lignin-blocking polypeptide and/or protein treatment of high lignin solids. The treatment enhances cellulase availability in cellulose conversion. Cellulase efficiencies are improved by the protein or polypeptide treatment. The treatment may be used in combination with steam explosion and acid prehydrolysis techniques. Hydrolysis yields from lignin containing biomass are enhanced 5-20%, and enzyme utilization is increased from 10% to 50%. Thus, a more efficient and economical method of processing lignin containing biomass materials utilizes a polypeptide/protein treatment step that effectively blocks lignin binding of cellulase.
Claims20
A method for enhancing hydrolysis yield from a biomass having a high lignin content comprising the steps of:
- treating the biomass with a composition including means for blocking a lignin component of the biomass to provide a biomass having a treated lignin component,
- wherein the means for blocking the lignin component binds to a non-specific binding site on lignin and has a molecular weight between 55,000 and 80,000 Daltons and
- adding an effective amount of hydrolyzing enzyme to the biomass to hydrolyze a cellulose component of the biomass,
- wherein the means for blocking the lignin component is a protein selected from the group consisting of albumin, soybean protein, and combinations thereof.
A method for enhancing hydrolysis yield from a biomass having a high lignin content comprising the steps of:
- treating the biomass with a composition including a lignin-blocking polypeptide selected from the group consisting of albumin, soybean protein and combinations thereof to provide a biomass having a polypeptide-treated lignin component;
- and
- adding an effective amount of hydrolyzing enzyme to the biomass to hydrolyze the cellulose component of the biomass.
A process for enhancing production of an organic compound from lignocellulosic biomass comprising:
- hydrolyzing the lignocellulosic biomass with steam, and acid or alkali to provide a treated biomass that comprises cellulose and lignin solids;
- washing the treated biomass solids with a lignin-blocking polypeptide selected from the group consisting of albumin, soybean protein and combinations thereof;
- and
- adding an effective amount of a cellulose-hydrolyzing enzyme to the treated biomass under conditions suitable for hydrolysis to produce carbohydrate,
- wherein said effective amount of hydrolyzing enzyme is at least 25% less than required to produce the carbohydrate if the washing step were omitted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.