Degradation of Cellulosic Materials by Trichoderma viride Cellulase

Abstract

The extra-cellular filtrates of Trichoderma viride ITCC-1433 showed considerable cellulolytic activity against native celluloses, cellulose derivatives and raw materials. Newspaperyellow and the rice straw were the prominent waste materials which were preferentially attacked by the enzyme. The alkali treatment of the latter doubled the sugar formation from it. As a result of cellulase action 80.4 per cent of the MN-Cellulose and 60.4 per cent of thealkali treated rice straw lost weight in 96 and 48 hr respectively. The weight loss was more or less equivalent to the reducing sugars formed.