Optimization of the enzymatic treatment of olive oil pomace for lignocellulosic ethanol production

Measuring the activity of an enzyme is equivalent to describe its catalytic properties, that mainly they are influenced by the type of environment in which the enzyme is placed to operate. The objective of this work is to optimize the activity of the enzyme cellulase of Trichoderma Reesei to catalyze the reaction of saccharification of the contained cellulose on the Olive Pomace (final solid waster of the elaboration of the olives in the production process of olive oil). The saccharification reaction previews gradual deterioration of the cellulose in little parts until obtaining the monomer or dimers (cellobiose) of the glucose, final result of the reaction. A design of experiments is used to determine the optimal enzyme does for maximum ethanol production in a yeast fermentation process. Pomace pretreatment and quantity as well as enzyme concentration and hydrolysis temperature were varied selectively according to the design. In this way fewer experiments were needed to obtain the optimal formula for second generation ethanol production process.