title: Enzymatic and chemical treatment limits on the controlled solubilization of brewers' spent grain.
abstract: The enzymatic hydrolysis of brewers' spent grain (BSG) has been investigated through treatment with commercial carbohydrases and proteases. Resultant residues were then chemically fractionated and delignified. Enzymatic treatments released 25-30% of the BSG mass and yielded precursors suitable for subsequent conversion to potentially value-added products. Controlled chemical fractionation selectively solubilized arabinoxylan but with no differences apparent due to prior enzyme treatment. The loss of non-polysaccharide components during alkali treatment suggests the presence of a high proportion of alkali-soluble lignin. Further delignification of the alkali-insoluble residues and further chemical fractionation released the remaining hemicellulose, to yield a residue which was >90% cellulose. Further knowledge of the properties and interaction between BSG polymers will facilitate an improved enzyme-assisted total deconstruction of BSG and hence the exploitation of its biomass.
authors: Sustainability of the Food Chain Exploitation Platform, Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UA, UK. jim.robertson@bbsrc.ac.uk
authors: James A
authors: JA
authors: Robertson
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: Castro-Mariñas
authors: Samuel R A
authors: SR
authors: Collins
authors: Craig B
authors: CB
authors: Faulds
authors: Keith W
authors: KW
authors: Waldron
mesh_terms: D002482:Cellulose / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D001467:Hordeum; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008031:Lignin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides; D002482:Cellulose; D008031:Lignin; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases; C019822:carbohydrase; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases