ARS | Publication request: Hemicellulose Bioconversion

Submitted to: Society of Industrial Microbiology Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: August 15, 2002
Publication Date: August 15, 2002
Citation: Saha, B.C. 2002. Hemicellulose bioconversion [abstract]. Society of Industrial Microbiology. p. 82.

Technical Abstract: Various agricultural residues such as corn fiber, corn stover, wheat straw, rice straw and sugarcane bagasse contain about 20-40% hemicellulose, the second most abundant polysaccharide in nature. The conversion of hemicellulose to fuels and chemicals is problematic. In this presentation, various pretreatment options, as well as enzymatic saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars, will be reviewed. Our research dealing with the enzymatic saccharification of corn fiber and development of novel and improved enzymes such as endo-xylanase, beta-xylosidase and alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase for hemicellulose bioconversion will be described. The barriers, progress and prospects of developing an environmentally benign bioprocess for large-scale conversion of hemicellulose to fuel ethanol, xylitol, 2,3-butanediol and other value-added fermentation products will be highlighted.