Sugarcane-root enzyme boosts sugar extraction from bagasse sixfold
In Brazil, researchers at the University of São Paulo have identified a sugarcane-derived enzyme that could improve production of second-generation ethanol from agricultural waste. The enzyme, α-L-arabinofuranosidase (ASD), helps break down the plant’s rigid cell-wall structure. When researchers added it to a commercial enzyme mixture, sugar release from sugarcane bagasse increased by up to sixfold. The discovery could improve the economics of converting bagasse into fermentable sugars and biofuels while reducing dependence on microbial enzyme formulations. Researchers are investigating additional plant-derived enzymes to develop more effective, potentially entirely plant-based enzyme cocktails.
Category: Research
