ABSTRACT
The hydrolysis of glucans is a signicant source of fermentable sugars for fuel ethanol production. The most important glucans in ethanol industry are starch and cellulose. In this chapter, the features of starch and cellulose hydrolyses are discussed. In particular, the difculties related to the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose are analyzed taking into consideration the enzyme complexes used and the presence of solid particles in the reaction mixture. Some process engineering aspects emphasizing the kinetic modeling of these processes are also discussed.
