Acid And Enzymatic Hydrolysis Of Cellulose From Waste Paper To Glucose

This paper studied on the production of glucose, a platform chemical, obtained from the hydrolysis of cellulose in waste paper catalysed either via acid or enzyme. Waste paper was utilized in the study as it was abundance, does not compete with food source, high in cellulose content and low in both hemicellulose and lignin content. The formation of glucose was achieved with the breakage of β-1,4-glycosidic linkages that exist between the oxygen and the carbon atoms, of a pair of glucose unit in a cellulose strand. The glucose concentration in the acid hydrolysis was 0.0168 mol/L representing 76% of cellulose conversion to glucose. The glucose concentration in the enzymatic hydrolysis was 0.0210 mol/L representing 72% of cellulose conversion to glucose. Taking into account on the reaction condition and time, by-product production as well as the toxicity issues, this paper confirms the fact that enzymatic hydrolysis is far more advantageous compared to acid hydrolysis process in the production of glucose from cellulose in waste paper.