ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS OF SOME MALAYSIAN WOODS

Abstract

Steamed wood fibres from some Malaysian woods were subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis. The yield of reducing sugars from fibres of rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis) and fast-growing trees such as Acacia mangium, Paraserianthes falcataria, and Gmelina arborea was under 20% of total fibre weight. On the other hand, fibres from oil palm stem showed a high yield of about 50% of the total fibre weight. Extraction of hemicellulose fraction with dilute alkaline solution improved the accessibility of enzyme for rubberwood but not for oil palm. Extraction by hot water increased slightly the saccharification of rubberwood and oil palm. With simultaneous enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation of oil palm fibres, the glucose produced was rapidly consumed by yeast and converted to ethanol. The concentration of the ethanol reached a maximum of about 1% of the solution after three days reaction time and then decreased gradually.