Utilisation of biomass in future for the production of biofuels
is an area of intensive research [1e4]. Degradation of the
lignocellulosic material to simple utilisable products is the key
step in this process. The product of interest in the biodegradation
of cellulose is reducing sugars which can be used in
further fermentation steps for the biofuel production [4,5].
Production of reducing sugars during cellulose degradation
can be monitored in a number of ways [6e9]. Use of DNS
reagent [10] for the determination of reducing sugars is not
only a widely practised method [7,11,12], but, it is also an
assay recommended by the International Union of Pure and
Applied Chemistry (IUPAC); It is also an integral part of the
filter paper assay which is another recommended assay by the
IUPAC for the measurement of cellulase activities [8].