초록
<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>In order to meet the increasing demand of 2G ethanol, sugarcane bagasse (SCB), a low cost by-product of sugarcane industry, can be utilized. However, cost-effective degradation of SCB into constituent fermentable sugars and subsequent ethanolic fermentation remains to be a far-fetched goal. In the present study, cellulase and hemicellulase cocktail produced by <I>Aspergillus tubingensis</I> NKBP-55 was applied for SCB hydrolysis under parametrically optimized conditions. Enzyme treatment (SCB: 7%, enzyme load: 1U = 1 mg) resulted in the liberation of fermentable mono-sugars 20 mg/mL (glucose, xylose and arabinose). Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis revealed increase in the crystallinity index from 58.4 to 63.9% as a result of degradation of hemicellulose and amorphous cellulose. SCB hydrolysate was fermented to ethanol (0.415 g/g) by glucose and xylose-fermenting yeast, <I>Candida shehatae</I> NCIM 3501. Maximum ethanol concentration (15.54 ± 0.3 g/L) with 77.9% fermentation efficiency and 0.161 g/L/h productivity was achieved. The present study revealed that <I>A. tubingensis</I> enzyme cocktail can be used for efficient SCB hydrolysis and conversion of resulting hydrolysate into bioethanol using <I>C. shehatae.</I> </P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Zymography of <I>Aspergillus tubingensis</I> enzymatic cocktail displayed multiplicity of cellulases and hemicellulases. </LI> <LI> Optimized saccharification of sugarcane bagasse using enzyme cocktail lead to release of 16.5% of fermentable sugars. </LI> <LI> Hydrolysate containing glucose-xylose was fermented to bioethanol (0.415 g/g) by <I>Candida shehatae</I>. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>