Effects of enzyme and solids loading on sugar beet pulp hydrolysis

The commercial enzymes Viscozyme and Pectinex were tested separately and in combinations to determine their effect on pectin, hemicellulose, and cellulose hydrolysis of sugar beet pulp (SBP). Use of each product separately resulted in high levels of SBP hydrolysis, and no synergistic effects were found when they were used in combination. Viscozyme treatments showed higher levels of hemicellulose, pectin, and cellulose hydrolysis. Hydrolysis yields from hemicellulose and pectin in Pectinex treatments were 7% to 9% lower than in Viscozyme treatments; levels of cellulose hydrolysis were similar except that Pectinex treatments had a significantly higher percentage of cellobiose and correspondingly lower glucose. Increasing the solids loading from 10% to 16% in a batch process increased hydrolyzate sugar concentrations but decreased yields (g sugar g-1SBP). Adding SBP in a fed-batch process did not improve SBP hydrolysis yields over the batch process. © 2014 ASABE.