DETERMINATION OF CELLULASE ACTIVITY BY GAS-LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

A new procedure for the determination of cellulase activity is described. The cellulases are incubated for 30 min at 39°C with finely divided cellulose at pH 6.9, and the glucose and cellobiose produced during the incubation are silylated and measured by gas-liquid chromatography. The precision of various steps in the procedure are determined and the optimum conditions for the enzyme assay are established. The coefficient of variation for the assay was 2.4 to 4.5%, depending on the substrate used. Although the method is specifically developed for the measurement of cellulase activity in mixed enzyme preparations from sheep rumen contents, it is applicable for the determination of other cellulases. © 1979.