Organosolvent Extraction Coupled with Steam Explosion Pretreatment of Wild Sugarcane and Optimization of Cellulase Activity using Response Surface Methodology

Abstract

The present study focuses on the effect of the organosolvent extraction with steam explosion pretreatment and optimization of cellulase activity using the response surface methodology for the production of bioethanol. The commercial cellulase enzyme was characterized for its optimal pH, temperature, and also studied for the enzyme activity. The effect of organosolvent pretreatment was identified in both native and pretreated wild sugarcane by SEM, XRD, and FTIR. The cellulase enzyme was found to be tolerant with an optimal pH of 5.0 with cellulase activity of pretreated wild sugarcane is found to be 25.36 IU/ml. Organosolvent extraction of wild sugarcane was carried out using water and ethanol as solvent. The composition of lignin, hemicelluloses, and cellulose was also determined in both pretreated and native biomass. The activity of the enzyme was observed over the effect of enzyme loading, substrate loading, temperature, and pH using a Box-Behnken design.