Abstract

The hydrolysis of lignocellulose is of great commercial interest mainly because of the enormous potential of use provided by glucose, which is the main product of this process. Especially, the ethanol product that can be derived from glucose is one that generates greater expectation of its potential use as an alternative fuel mixed with fossil fuels or as additive to increase the octane number. The main advantages of using fuels based on biomass are the renewability of the source and the reduction of gaseous emissions. There is an increasing interest in the use of "biocombustibles" as well because of the need to find new sources of energy. The present methods to degrade lignocellulosic material consist of acid and enzymatic treatment. Acid hydrolysis of cellulose is applied successfully at the industrial level but the enzymatic technology has advantages because of less production of secondary products and less loss of sugars produced, resulting in better yields. The goal of the present work is to study the degradability of the wood using an enzymatic method to produce glucose, applied to the wood of the eucalyptus E. maidenii. The wood was delignified partially in neutral sulfite after mechanical pulping with planar disks and alkaline treatment of the pulp with swelling agents. Finally, there was the hydrolysis. The activity of the enzyme and yields of hydrolysis were determined. Enzymatic hydrolysis of partially delignified wood and treatment with swelling agents achieved better yields than does conventional acid hydrolysis. A maximum yield of 45.7% was achieved based on dry wood. Tables, graphs, and references.