Effect of alkali delignification on wheat straw saccharification by fusarium oxysporum cellulases

The effect of alkaline delignification of wheat straw on the chemical composition and the subsequent enzymic hydrolysis of the pretreated straw are reported. Both hot (120°°C) and cold (20–36°°C) delignification were investigated, using either aqueous or organic alkaline solutions. The treated lignocellulosic materials were hydrolyzed by the cellulases of Fusarium oxysporum strain F3. Both delignification and saccharification yield showed linear relationships with the level of alkali used. Under the chosen experimental conditions 70–100% hydrolysis was achieved either by hot or cold delignification. Delignification to at least 50% appeared crucial for total polysaccharide conversion.