title: High temperature pre-digestion of corn stover biomass for improved product yields.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The efficient conversion of lignocellulosic feedstocks remains a key step in the commercialization of biofuels. One of the barriers to cost-effective conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to sugars remains the enzymatic saccharification process step. Here, we describe a novel hybrid processing approach comprising enzymatic pre-digestion with newly characterized hyperthermophilic enzyme cocktails followed by conventional saccharification with commercial enzyme preparations. Dilute acid pretreated corn stover was subjected to this new procedure to test its efficacy. Thermal tolerant enzymes from Acidothermus cellulolyticus and Caldicellulosiruptor bescii were used to pre-digest pretreated biomass at elevated temperatures prior to saccharification by the commercial cellulase formulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We report that pre-digestion of biomass with these enzymes at elevated temperatures prior to addition of the commercial cellulase formulation increased conversion rates and yields when compared to commercial cellulase formulation alone under low solids conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrating improvements in rates and yields of conversion point the way forward for hybrid biomass conversion schemes utilizing catalytic amounts of hyperthermophilic enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Biosciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013, Denver, West Parkway, Golden, CO 80401 USA.
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brunecky
authors.affiliation: Chemical Biosciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013, Denver, West Parkway, Golden, CO 80401 USA.
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Hobdey
authors.affiliation: Chemical Biosciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013, Denver, West Parkway, Golden, CO 80401 USA.
authors.forename: Larry E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: National Bioenergy Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013, Denver, West Parkway, Golden, CO 80401 USA.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: National Bioenergy Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013, Denver, West Parkway, Golden, CO 80401 USA.
authors.forename: Melvin P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.affiliation: Chemical Biosciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013, Denver, West Parkway, Golden, CO 80401 USA.
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Himmel
authors.affiliation: Chemical Biosciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013, Denver, West Parkway, Golden, CO 80401 USA.
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Decker
keywords: Acidothermus cellulolyticus; Biomass; Caldicellulosiruptor bescii; CelA; E1; Enzymatic hydrolysis; Pretreatment; Thermotoga maritima