New enzyme efficiently decomposes cellulose

• Book ID: 104386947
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2007
• Weight: 423 KB
• Volume: 2007
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1351-4180
• DOI: 10.1016/s1351-4180(07)70343-4

✦ Synopsis

New enzyme efficiently decomposes cellulose

Thermostable Enzyme Laboratory, a bioventure based in Osaka, Japan, has created a novel enzyme to improve the efficiency of bioethanol manufacture. The new enzyme is highly resistant to heat and effective in decomposing starch, cellulose and other raw materials for ethanol production to sugar form at high temperatures. The enzyme can withstand temperatures above 70°C up to 90-100°C without sacrificing its high sugar conversion efficiency. This compares to about 65°C with conventional enzymes. It also reduces the amount of residue generated during the process by 80% compared with conventional enzymes.