Research paperKinetic model of cellulose degradation using simultaneous saccharification and fermentation

•Ethanol fermentation and enzymatic hydrolysis models were fit to experimental data separately.•Their model equations were then combined for SSF.•In enzymatic hydrolysis, the size of cellulose was considered as the theoretical values.

Numerical analyses of energy production processes are important for practical applications. Here, we established a model of enzymatic hydrolysis and ethanol fermentation. The kinetic model of these reactions were represented by Langmuir adsorption, Michaelis-Menten, and Shuler models. In our model, ethanol fermentation and enzymatic hydrolysis models were fit to experimental data separately, and their model equations were then combined for fitting of experimental data, including the size of cellulose, amount of adsorbed protein, and decreases in glucose as the theoretical production values for SSF. From these kinetic models, the theoretical values for saccharification and fermentation were calculated, and optimal parameters were determined. Using these parameters, theoretical curves for simultaneous saccharification and fermentation were predicted. Additionally, we identified changes in the radius of cellulose and the concentrations of cellulose, cellobiose, glucose, and ethanol during saccharification and fermentation.