Enzymatic Saccharification and Ethanol Production of Xylem from Purwodadi Botanical Garden Trees

Mariko Sakata (Plant Genetics, Department of Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502)
Mito Tokue (Plant Genetics, Department of Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502)
Rumi Kaida (Plant Genetics, Department of Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502)
Teruaki Taji (Plant Genetics, Department of Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502)
Yoichi Sakata (Plant Genetics, Department of Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502)
Takahisa Hayashi (Plant Genetics, Department of Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502)
Dwi Narko (Purwodadi Botanical Garden, Jl. Raya Surabaya-Malang, Purwodadi, Pasuruan, East Java)
Fitria Fitria (Research and Development Unit for Biomaterials, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Cibinong Science Center, Jl. Raya Bogor Km.46, Cibinong, Bogor 16911)
Danang Sudarwoko Adi (Research and Development Unit for Biomaterials, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Cibinong Science Center, Jl. Raya Bogor Km.46, Cibinong, Bogor 16911)
Wahyu Dwianto (Research and Development Unit for Biomaterials, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Cibinong Science Center, Jl. Raya Bogor Km.46, Cibinong, Bogor 16911)

Wood Research Journal : Journal of Indonesian Wood Research Society
Vol 3, No 2 (2012): Wood Research Journal

Recent studies have revealed that sengon (Paraserianthes falcataria) xylem consists of soft walls which are easily hydrolysable with a commercial cellulase preparation. We felt it important to determine the saccharification levels for fast-growing tropical trees, of which sengon, one of the fastest growing tree species in Indonesia, was used as the control wood species. The aim of this study was to screen and evaluate the xylem of Purwodadi Botanical Garden trees for saccharification in order to assess their potential usefulness in bioethanol production. Saccharification and fermentation were first examined in the xylem derived from the branches of 32 trees. The xylem was then milled into powder using a ball mill, and the powdered xylem was digested with a commercial cellulase preparation (Accelerase, Palo Alto, USA) derived from Trichoderma viride. The levels of enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose and ethanol production were higher for Firmiana malayana and Pterocarpus indicus than for sengon.