Structural Features of Cellulose and Cellulose Derivatives, and Their Effects on Enzymatic Hydrolysis

PIER LUIGI BELTRAME and PAOLO CARNITI University di Milano, Milan, Italy

I. INTRODUCTION

The structural properties of cellulosic materials are among the most important factors governing their enzymatic hydrolysis. These properties are essentially related to the origin and history of each cellulosic material and can be modified by adequate pretreatment in order to enhance the yield and rate of the hydrolysis reaction.