2.3.4. Oxidative delignification
Lignin biodegradation could be catalyzed by the
peroxidase enzyme with the presence of H2O2 (Azzam,
1989). The pretreatment of cane bagasse with hydrogen
peroxide greatly enhanced its susceptibility to enzymatic
hydrolysis. About 50% lignin and most hemicellulose
were solubilized by 2% H2O2 at 30 C within 8 h, and
95% efficiency of glucose production from cellulose was
achieved in the subsequent saccharification by cellulase
at 45 C for 24 h (Azzam, 1989). Bjerre et al. (1996) used
wet oxidation and alkaline hydrolysis of wheat straw (20
g straw/l, 170 C, 5–10 min), and achieved 85% conversion yield of cellulose to glucose.