An effective method for bioconversion of delignified waste-cellulose fibers from the paper industry with a cellulase complex

An effective method for production of glucose was developed using enzymatic hydrolysis of waste-cellulose fibers by the cellulase complex from Trichoderma reesei. However, these cellulosic materials are strongly resistant to direct enzymatic hydrolysis (the degree of degradation after 48 h of enzyme treatment did not exceed 14%) apparently due to the presence of various chemical substances used in the process of paper production. This adhesive “envelope” around the cellulose fibers was effectively pretreated with 0.25% H3PO4 and after that the free cellulose mass was extensively hydrolyzed by the cellulase complex (degree of degradation more than 80%). The HPLC analyses of the enzyme hydrolysates revealed glucose as the main component as well as some cellobiose and xylose.