Cellulase Determination: Modifications to Make the Filter Paper Assay Easy, Fast, Practical and Efficient

Abstract

There has been a notable increase in interest about cellulases in recent years due to their numerous potential applications, including the hydrolysis of cellulose in lignocellulosic biomass to produce reducing sugars for the development of second-generation ethanol. However, the traditional cellulase assays are tedious, time-consuming and labor intensive. What is more, they require large amounts of reagents and produce large quantities of toxic effluents? The Filter Paper Assay (FPA) is the standard measure of cellulase activity, according to the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. Although it can be reproduced in most laboratories, with some practice, this method has long been known for its complexity and many manual manipulations. In this study, adaptations were made to the FPA to create a low-cost, easier, faster, less labor intensive and less polluting alternative, while maintaining similar results to the standard method.