International Journal of Pure & Applied Bioscience (IJPAB)
Year : 2015, Volume : 3, Issue : 6
First page : (12) Last page : (20)
Article doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.2156

Saccharification and change of incubation pH during the bioconversion of various waste paper materials with cellulase from Aspergillus niger

J. Pieter H. van Wyk*, J. Boitumelo M. Sibiya and R. Bonakele Dhlamini
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Ga-Rankuwa, South Africa
*Corresponding Author E-mail: bioenergy.res@gmail.com
Abstract
Waste paper contains a high content of cellulose, a biopolymer that could be hydrolyzed into glucose a fermentable sugar. The cellulose content of eight different waste paper materials have been bio-converted into glucose by cellulase from Aspergillus niger. During this enzyme catalyzed degradation different saccharification profiles have been concluded for the various paper materials.  Brown envelope paper showed the highest susceptibility for degradation by these cellulase followed by foolscap paper and cardboard. Newspaper showed the lowest degree of degradation by this enzyme system. Waste paper from local retailers, Wool worths and Pick ’n Pay were also included in the study. The change in the pH values during the bio-conversion of each paper material was also recorded.

Keywords: Waste paper, Cellulose, Cellulase, Saccharification, A. niger, Incubation pH

Full Text : PDF; Journal doi : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782

Cite this article: Van Wyk, J.P.H., Sibiya, J.B.M. and Dhlamini, R.B., Saccharification and change of incubation pH during the bioconversion of various waste paper materials with cellulase from Aspergillus niger, Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 3(6): 12-20 (2015). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.2156