Structural changes in hemp fibers as a result of enzymatic hydrolysis with mixed enzyme systems

Hemp fabric is hydrolyzed with cellulase, hemicellulase/cellulase, and cellulase plus additional beta-glucosidase. The effect of the admixture of hemicellulase and beta-glucosidase is evaluated in terms of hydrolysis rate and product properties. The influence of mechanical action during the treatment is also taken into account. Treated samples are characterized by weight loss per incubation time, tensile strength, crystallinity, accessibility, and pore structure. The admixture of hemicellulase and beta-glucosidase produces only minor effects without mechanical action on the hydrolysis rats, but mechanical action applied during the treatment dramatically increases weight loss. While crystallinity changes upon hydrolysis are insignificant, the pore structure is strongly influenced by the choice of enzyme system. Hemicellulase seems to promote the formation of smaller pores, while cellobiase forms larger pores.