Membrane Bioreactor for Enhanced Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Cellulose

With the rising environmental concerns related to fossil fuels utilization and the depletion of resources, interest in bioethanol from lignocellulosic wastes as a potential sustainable energy alternative has been increasing. However, enhancing the enzymatic hydrolysis of celluloses is essential for efficient and feasible bioconversion of cellulose to produce simple sugars that can be converted to bioethanol by fermentation. Enzymatic process has been gaining increasing attention because it is benign and does not require post treatment, commonly needed with conventional chemical alternative, which results in a lower overall production cost. However, the complexity of the enzymatic reaction is preventing utilization of its full potential. This research aims utilize membrane technology to enhance the enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass.