Comparison and optimization of enzymatic saccharification of soybean fibers recovered from aqueous extractions

Soybean insoluble fractions recovered from aqueous extraction processing (AEP) and enzyme-assisted AEP (EAEP) of full-fat soybean flakes (FFSF) and extruded FFSF were evaluated as a feedstock for the production of fermentable sugars using enzymes. Among the four insoluble fractions (AEP FFSF, EAEP FFSF, AEP extruded FFSF and EAEP extruded FFSF), the composition analysis revealed that the one recovered from EAEP of extruded FFSF had the highest glucan content, 16% [dry basis (db)], as compared to about 10% (db) for the other fractions. Thirty-three percent of the initial glucan of the insoluble recovered from AEP and EAEP of FFSF were converted into glucose using 33 FPU of Accellerase 1000/g-glucan. This saccharification yield was increased to 44% with extruded fibers. The higher saccharification yield of 49% was obtained at 45 °C, 1% glucan loading, and 101 FPU/g-glucan enzymes loading after 27 h of hydrolysis.