Parameters affecting the enzymic hydrolysis of oil-seed meals, lignocellulosic by-products of the food industry

The enzymatic hydrolysis of cell-wall materials (CWM) from sunflower and palm-kernel meals was studied using crude enzyme preparations containing different cell wall polysaccharide-degrading activities. At high enzyme concentrations and very small particle size a maximum of 30 and 53% of the non-starch polysaccharides present in sunflower and palm-kernel CWM, respectively, was solubilized after 72 h. Partial delignification of the CWM gave residues with decreased lignin content but lower or slightly enhanced degradability using sodium chlorite treatment and alkaline peroxide treatment, respectively. Although the composition of enzyme preparations was found to influence the extent of solubilization, the type of sugars released and the site of enzymic attack within the tissues, the results of the study indicate that of all parameters investigated, accessibility of the substrates was the overriding factor limiting further hydrolysis.