Kinetics analysis of the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose from straw stalk

The effects of several parameters on the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of straw stalk for ethanol fuel production were investigated on the basis of orthogonal experiments. The parameters include temperature and time of fermentation, quantity and proportion of yeast inoculation, as well as cellulase dosage. An ethanol yield of 0.183 g/g was obtained from the straw stalk pretreated with diluted acid under determined optimum conditions. These conditions were: fermentation temperature: 38°C; fermentation time: 72 h; yeast inoculation quantity: 15%; yeast inoculation proportion: 2:1; and cellulose enzyme dosage: 20 U/g. The relationship between ethanol concentration c and fermentation time t is presented as follows, c=abt/(1+bt). The rate constant k of straw stalk hydrolysis by the cellulose enzyme depends on hydrolysis time, as described by k=k ₁ t ^?h . Therefore, straw stalk hydrolysis reaction by the cellulose enzyme is fractal-like.