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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #90630
Title: ENZYMATIC SACCHARIFICATION OF CORN FIBER

Author
item Saha, Badal
item Bothast, Rodney

Submitted to: Corn Utilization Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/3/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Corn fiber consists of about 20% starch, 14% cellulose and 35% hemicellulose and has the potential to serve as a low cost feedstock for production of fuel ethanol. Currently, development of an enzymatic process for saccharification of corn fiber to fermentable sugars at a commercial scale faces significant technical and economic challenges. Its success depends largely on the development of environmentally friendly pretreatment procedures and highly efficient and cost-effective enzymes for conversion of pretreated corn fiber to fermentable sugars. We have evaluated several pretreatment and enzymatic processes for conversion of corn fiber cellulose, hemicellulose and remaining starch to fermentable sugars. The problems and prospects of using enzymes in corn fiber saccharification and economic assessment will be discussed. Results of our endeavor to develop improved enzymes for cellulose and hemicellulose hydrolysis will be presented.