CT: Rapid and efficient enzymatic degradation of plant biomass into fermentable sugars is a major challenge for the sustainable production of biochemicals and biofuels. Enzymes that are more thermostable (up to 70°C) use shorter reaction times for the complete saccharification of plant polysaccharides compared to hydrolytic enzymes of mesophilic fungi such as Trichoderma and Aspergillus species. The genus Myceliophthora contains four thermophilic fungi producing industrially relevant thermostable enzymes. Within this genus, isolates belonging to M. heterothallica were recently separated from the well-described species M. thermophila.
S: http://aem.asm.org/content/79/4/1316.long (last access: 9 December 2016)
N: 1. From the prefix “bio” (word-forming element, from Greek bio-, comb. form of bios “one’s life, course or way of living, lifetime”) and the noun “degradation” (1530s, from French dégradation -14c., Old French degradacion-, from Medieval Latin degradationem -nominative degradatio-, noun of action from past participle stem of degradare).
2. Any type of biomass-derived fuel processing requires preparation and degradation of the biomass, e.g. cellulose. Catalytic treatment with hydrogen peroxide is capable of degrading cellulose into any desired form, and even decomposing it entirely, if needed. The process can be performed at room temperature, without any external energy input. Neutral pH allows to use the degraded cellulose as a feed for further processing, including bio-catalytic production of ethanol.
3. We use the term “biodegradable” as an adjective, when any kind of material goes through the process of “biodegradation” as a noun.
S: 1. OED – http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=bio; http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=degradation (last access: 8 December 2016). 2. http://www.hydrogenlink.com/biomassdegradation (last access: 9 December 2016). 3. MW – https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biodegradation (last access: 8 December 2016).