Saccharification of ink covered office paper by different concentrations of cellulase from Trichoderma viride

J. P. H. Van Wyk* and J. B. M.

Abstract

Cellulose, a biopolymer composed of glucose units, is a structural component of waste office paper. Different masses of ink free office paper as well as office paper covered 50 % and 100 % with ink were treated with cellulase from Trichoderma viride releasing fermentable sugars such as glucose thus exploring the renewable energy potential of waste cellulose. Ink covered office paper resulted in less sugar formation compared to ink free office paper. Although an increased amount of sugar was released when increasing masses of waste office paper was hydrolyzed with increasing cellulase concentrations the efficiency of bioconversion was not increasing mass dependent