PRETREATING METHOD FOR ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS OF CELLULOSE MATERIAL

PURPOSE:To enhance enzymatic hydrolysis ratio to a bustrate, by applying halogen treatment to a cellulose material previously irradiated by electron beam, etc., removing at least part of water content from the treated material and further treating the material with an aqueous alkali solution. CONSTITUTION:Electron beam or gamma-ray having 10 -10 rad is irradiated to a needle-leaf tree such as cedar, pine, etc., which is then treated with a halogen or halogen compound. Then part or all of water content which is contained in the needle-leaf tree is removed and further delignin treatment is carried out using an aqueous alkali solution. the aqueous alkali solution includes aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, aqueous potassium hydroxide solution, aqueous ammonia solution, etc. Delignin proceeds and enzymatic hydrolysis ratio to a substrate increases by treating the cellulose material with chlorine water and removing water content which is contained in the cellulose material.