Ethanol from lignocellulose using crude unprocessed cellulase from solid-state fermentation

It was desired to study a simplified method of cellulase production using solid-state fermentation for its potential to be used on-site as part of a cellulose to ethanol conversion process, in lieu of expensive and energy intensive commercial enzyme preparations. Crude unprocessed cellulase extracts were produced by solid-state fermentation of Trichoderma reesei on ground wheat straw. While cellulase yields were not high they were sufficient to produce ethanol from wheat straw in simultaneous saccharification and fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. As little as an additional 5% of the material converted to ethanol may be employed for cellulase production suggesting an inordinate quantity of additional substrate would not be required. These findings suggest a simplified crude cellulase process at the site of ethanol production using a common lignocellulosic substrate may be employed in lieu of commercial enzyme preparations.