Hidrólise Enzimática de Biomassa

Abstract

Recebido em 9/6/09; aceito em 12/3/10; publicado na web em 20/7/10 BIOMASS ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS. Production of ethanol from biomass fermentation has gained much attention recently. Biomass cellulosic material is first converted into glucose either by chemical or by enzymatic process, and then glucose is fermented to ethanol. Considering the current scenario, where many efforts are devoted for the search of green routes to obtaining ethanol from renewable sources, this review presents the relationship between structure and properties of cellulosic material, pre-treatments and hydrolysis of cellulosic material, and structure and function of cellulase enzyme complex. INTRODUÇÃO Atualmente, o sistema energético internacional é fortemente dependente de combustíveis fósseis (carvão, petróleo e gás), pois cerca de 80% do consumo mundial de energia se originam dessas fontes; o consumo apresenta um crescimento anual de cerca de 2% (média em 20 anos) e cresceu 3,1% ao ano nos últimos 5 anos.