Enhancement of enzymatic cellulose hydrolysis using a novel type of bioreactor with intensive stirring induced by electromagnetic field

The use of the intensive mass transfer reactor (IMTR) for enzymatic saccharification of cellulose, where the reaction mixture is intensively stirred by ferromagnetic particles (FMP), enhances the process rate and productivity drastically. The most significant enhancement of the process was observed when microcrystalline cellulose was used as a substrate. A concentration of sugars up to 5% was obtained after 1 h of cellulose hydrolysis using a cellulase activity level of 2 filter paper units (FPU)/mL (20 FPU/g substrate). In the hydrolysis of two types of industrial cellulosic wastes, the enhancement effects were less pronounced. Parameters related to the IMTR design, such as the shape, dimensions, and mass of FMP, as well as the magnetic field strength, strongly affected the process of hydrolysis. Among various kinds of FMP tested, the most efficient were found to be cylindrical particles (0.25 x 4 mm). In general, the hydrolysis rate enhanced when the magnetic field strength increased from 26,000 to 64,000 A/m. An optimal FMP loading existed at each level of the field strength. Hydrolyzates obtained in the IMTR under the action of Trichoderma reesei and Penicillium verruculosum cellulases contained glucose and cellobiose as soluble products, cellobiose being predominant (> 50%). Only when a high level of extra beta-glucosidase was added to the IMTR (10 CBU/mL), did glucose made up more than 90% of the products. Owing to extreme shear conditions in the IMTR, significant enzyme inactivation took place.