Methods to enhance the activity of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes
First Claim
1. A method for hydrolyzing lignocellulose, comprising contacting said lignocellulose with at least one chemical under moderate conditions to generate a treated lignocellulose, and contacting said treated lignocellulose with at least one enzyme capable of hydrolyzing lignocellulose, wherein said chemical is selected from the group consisting of oxidizing agents, denaturants, detergents, organic solvents, bases, and combinations thereof, wherein said moderate conditions comprise:
- a) a temperature from about 10°
C. to about 90°
C.;
b) a pressure less than about 2 atm; and
, c) a pH between about pH 4.0 and about pH 10.0.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for hydrolyzing lignocellulose are provided, comprising contacting the lignocellulose with at least one chemical treatment. Methods for pretreating a lignocellulosic material comprising contacting the material with at least one chemical are also provided. Methods for liberating a substance such as an enzyme, a pharmaceutical, or a nutraceutical from plant material are also provided. These methods are more efficient, more economical, and less toxic than current methods.
-
Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A method for hydrolyzing lignocellulose, comprising contacting said lignocellulose with at least one chemical under moderate conditions to generate a treated lignocellulose, and contacting said treated lignocellulose with at least one enzyme capable of hydrolyzing lignocellulose, wherein said chemical is selected from the group consisting of oxidizing agents, denaturants, detergents, organic solvents, bases, and combinations thereof, wherein said moderate conditions comprise:
-
a) a temperature from about 10°
C. to about 90°
C.;
b) a pressure less than about 2 atm; and
,c) a pH between about pH 4.0 and about pH 10.0. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
2-3. -3. (Cancelled)
-
21. A method for pretreating a lignocellulosic material comprising contacting said material with at least one chemical under moderate conditions to generate a treated lignocellulose, wherein said chemical is selected from the group consisting of oxidizing agents, denaturants, detergents, organic solvents, bases, and a combination thereof wherein said moderate conditions comprise:
-
a) a temperature from about 10°
C. to about 90°
C.;
b) a pressure less than about 2 atm; and
, c) a pH between about pH 4.0 and about pH 10.0.
-
-
22. A method for liberating a substance from plant material, comprising contacting said plant material with at least one chemical under the following conditions:
-
a) a temperature from about 10°
C. to about 90°
C.;
b) a pressure less than about 2 atm; and
,c) a pH between about pH 4.0 and about pH 10.0, to generate a treated plant material, wherein said chemical is selected from the group consisting of oxidizing agents, denaturants, detergents, organic solvents, bases, and a combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. A method for hydrolyzing lignocellulose, comprising contacting said lignocellulose with at least one chemical to generate a treated lignocellulose, and contacting said treated lignocellulose with at least one enzyme capable of hydrolyzing lignocellulose, wherein said chemical is an oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of a hypochlorite, hypochlorous acid, chlorine, nitric acid, a peroxyacid, peroxyacetic acid, a persulfate, a percarbonate, a permanganate, osmium tetraoxide, chromium oxide, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, and a compound capable of generating oxygen radicals.
- 30. A method for hydrolyzing lignocellulose, comprising contacting said lignocellulose with a base at a pH of about 9.0 to about 14.0 to generate a treated lignocellulose, and contacting said treated lignocellulose with at least one enzyme capable of hydrolyzing lignocellulose.
Specification