Simultaneous pretreatment and sacchariffication of rice husk by Phanerochete chrysosporium for improved production of reducing sugars

Phanerochete chrysosporium, the white-rot fungus, (a best source for lignolytic enzymes system) was used in the biological pretreatment of rice husk for reducing sugars production. Usually reducing sugar production through biochemical process involves two steps: solid state fermentation (SSF) of fungal pretreatment for delignification, subsequently pretreated biomass subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis. During the fungal pretreatment of rice husk for reducing sugar production along with cellulase and xylanse, the activities of lignin degradation-related enzymes such as lignin peroxidases (LiP), GLOX (glyoxidase), and aryl alcohol oxidases (AAO), were observed. The fungal pretreated rice husk produced highest (895.9 mg/ml/2 g of rise husk) reducing sugars on 18th day of fungal treatment. This method may be good alternative to avoid operational costs associated with washing and the removal of inhibitors during the conventional pretreatment methods. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.