Enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose by partial modification of its chemical structure

A series of 2,3-dialdehyde celluloses with different degrees of oxidation were used for deriving corresponding dicarboxylate, dicarboxy, and Schiffʹs base cellulose derivatives. The dialdehyde cellulose was hydrolyzed by cellulase to a lower extent than the starting cellulose, except at high levels of aldehyde content (above 50%). For dicarboxylate and dicarboxy celluloses, the highest level of oxidized NaDCC and DCC hydrolysed up to 70 and 60% respectively which was 3–4 times more than cellulose. The 2,3-dioxime cellulose derivative hydrolyzes only up to 16.3% for the highest level of oxidized dioxime. In the case of 2,3-diethylimine cellulose, all derivatives hydrolyse faster than the native cellulose. Up to 75% hydrolysis was observed for 2,3-diethyimine cellulose-50, 2,3-dipropylimine and 2,3-dibutylimine cellulose. The 2,3-dibenzylimine cellulose hydrolyses a little slower than the alkylimine derivatives. The 2,3-dihydrazone cellulose derivatives with all level of oxidation showed resistance towards enzymatic hydrolysis.