Enzymatic saccharification of solid residue of olive mill in a batch reactor

Abstract

This paper describes the enzymatic hydrolysis of solid residue of olive mill (OMRS) in a batch reactor with the Trichoderma reesei enzyme. Before enzymatic saccharification, crude lignocellulosic material is submitted to alkaline pre-treatment with NaOH. Optimum conditions of the pre-treatment (temperature of T D 100 C and OMRS–NaOH concentration ratio of about R D 20) were determined. The optimum enzymatic conditions determined were as follows: pH of about 5, temperature of T D 50 C and enzyme to mass substrate mass ratio E=S D 0:1 g enzyme (g OMRS)−1. The maximum saccharification yield obtained at optimum experimental conditions was about 50%. The experimental results agree with Lineweaver Burk’s formula for low substrate concentrations. At substrate concentrations greater than 40 g dm−3, inhibitory effects were encountered. The kinetic constants obtained for the batch reactor were Km D 0:1 g dm−3 min−1 and V m D 800 g dm−3. © 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.