Enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose in the presence of phenolic compounds: a study in continuous UF-membrane bioreactors.

"Recently, agro-industrial liquid wastes are becoming a source of increasing biotechnological interest since they can generate high-added value compounds. The presence of phenolic compounds however interferes with the hydrolytic step of the lignocellulosic wastes into reducing sugars. Cellulose, in particular, is a polysaccharide of (1-4) linked D.glucose units, presenting both crystalline and amorphous structures, naturally formed through the photosynthesis process, hydrolysable with cellulase complex. Its bio-hydrolysis is very attractive as it occurs in mild operating conditions of pH, temperature and low energy requirement. Some drawbacks, however, have yet to be overcome, such as slow reaction rate, lack of an ideal reactor system, ineffective use of cellulase, enzyme product inhibition (mainly cellobiose and glucose) and enzyme inactivation. Enzyme inactivation in fact prevents substrate hydrolysis reducing the amount of glucose formed and hence the growth of microorganisms in an activated sludge plant or ethanol yield."