Lignin-based polyoxyethylene ether enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocelluloses by dispersing cellulase aggregates

•Enzymatic hydrolysis lignin is used to prepare EHL–PEG.•EHL–PEG improved glucose yield of corn stover from16.7% to 70.1%.•EHL–PEG reduced cellulase non-productive adsorption on lignin by 88%.•EHL–PEG dispersed cellulase aggregates from 1220 nm to 420 nm.

Water-soluble lignin-based polyoxyethylene ether (EHL–PEG), prepared from enzymatic hydrolysis lignin (EHL) and polyethylene glycol (PEG1000), was used to improve enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency of corn stover. The glucose yield of corn stover at 72 h was increased from 16.7% to 70.1% by EHL–PEG, while increase in yield with PEG4600 alone was 52.3%. With the increase of lignin content, EHL–PEG improved enzymatic hydrolysis of microcrystalline cellulose more obvious than PEG4600. EHL–PEG could reduce at least 88% of the adsorption of cellulase on the lignin film measured by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D), while reduction with PEG4600 was 43%. Cellulase aggregated at 1220 nm in acetate buffer analyzed by dynamic light scattering. EHL–PEG dispersed cellulase aggregates and formed smaller aggregates with cellulase, thereby, reduced significantly nonproductive adsorption of cellulase on lignin and enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocelluloses.

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