EVALUATING THE SYNERGISTIC EFFECTS OF CELLULASE AND XYLANASE ON THE YIELD OF REDUCING SUGARS FROM ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS OF CORN COB

ABSTRACT

The use of multiple enzymes in the enzymatic Hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass is a methodology that is used to improve the yield of reducing sugar resulted from the Hydrolysis process. This report investigates the synergy between cellulase and xylanase enzymes in the hydrolysis of corn cob in enhancing the yield of reducing sugars. The Bradford Assay Method was used to determine the quantity of enzymes to be used in protein mass while the Dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) test was used to measure the quantity of reducing sugar achieved from the Hydrolysis processes. This study reveals that a maximum yield of 2.126g/L of reducing sugar was achieved using 40mg/g of cellulase to hydrolyze 5g of Corn Cob after a period of 6 hours with a percentage hydrolysis of 35.11% while a maximum yield of 4.237g/L of reducing sugar was achieved using 40mg/g of cellulase/xylanase enzyme cocktail to hydrolyze 5g of Corn cob after a period of 6 hours with a percentage hydrolysis of 69.96% This demonstrates an overall increase in hydrolysis process efficiency by 99.29%. The synergistic effect of combining cellulase and xylanase shows its potential as a means of improving the efficiency of biomass conversion processes, this further highlights the importance of a suitable accessory enzymes being used as a supplement to cellulase in improving sugar yield during enzymatic hydrolysis.