The Study on Pulverized Wood Characteristics and Its Enzymatic Saccharification

Abstract

Characteristics of pulverized wood were analyzed, and enzymatic saccharification was carried out with pulverized woods in order to understand the correlativity between pulverized wood characteristics and enzymatic saccharification efficiency of the pulverized woods. Woody biomass pulverized in a planetary mill in various periods, and then the particle size, crystallinity index of cellulose and cellulose microfibril width of pulverized woods were measured. Crystallinity index of cellulose of pulverized woody biomass decreased significantly with a longer pulverization period. In enzymatic saccharification, influence of the apparent particle size of pulverized powder on the saccharification efficiency was unexpectedly-minor in the case of long pulverization periods, but noncrystallization of the cellulose by the mechanical impact made a significant effect on the saccharification efficiency.