Enzymes at work: breaking down stubborn cellulose

TU Graz researchers observe enzymes breaking down cellulose to aid the production of biofuels. The results are now published in Nature Communications. Biofuels obtained from biomass are becoming increasingly important. Apart from biomethane, however, they cannot be produced efficiently, cheaply and sustainably since the current technological complexity and costs are still too high. Partly to blame is cellulose, a polysaccharide and plant constituent which is not water soluble and thus difficult to process. Oxidative enzymes. Typically, biorefineries use a mix of hydrolytically active enzymes which utilize water molecules to breakdown plant material - as happens in natural degradation processes.