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Technical Report Enzymatic Saccharification of NREL/TP-510-42629 Lignocellulosic Biomass March 2008 

Laboratory Analytical Procedure (LAP) 

Issue Date: 3/21/2008 

M. Selig, N. Weiss, and Y. Ji 

NREL is operated by Midwest Research Institute ● Battelle Contract No. DE-AC36-99-GO10337 
Technical Report Enzymatic Saccharification of NREL/TP-510-42629 Lignocellulosic Biomass March 2008 

Laboratory Analytical Procedure (LAP) 

Issue Date: 3/21/2008 

M. Selig, N. Weiss, and Y. Ji 

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 

1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, Colorado 80401-3393 

303-275-3000 • www.nrel.gov 

Operated for the U.S. Department of Energy 

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 

by Midwest Research Institute • Battelle 

Contract No. DE-AC36-99-GO10337 
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Procedure Title: Enzymatic Saccharification of Lignocellulosic Biomass 

Laboratory Analytical Procedure 

1. Introduction 

1.1	 This procedure describes the enzymatic saccharification of cellulose from native or 

pretreated lignocellulosic biomass to glucose in order to determine the maximum extent of 

digestibility possible. A saturating level of a commercially available or in-house produced 

cellulase preparation and hydrolysis times up to one week are used. 

2. Scope 

2.1 This procedure is appropriate for lignocellulosic biomass. If the biomass is suspected to 

have some starch content, dry weight percent cellulose calculated from total glucan must 

be corrected to subtract the starch contribution to total dry weight percent glucose. 

2.2 All analyses should be performed in accordance with an appropriate laboratory specific 

Quality Assurance Plan (QAP). 

3. Terminology 

3.1	 Pretreated biomass: biomass that has been chemically or thermally altered, changing the 

structural composition 

3.2	 Cellulase enzyme: an enzyme preparation exhibiting all three synergistic cellulolytic 

activities: endo-1,4-β-D-glucanase, exo-1,4-β-glucosidase, and β-D-glucosidase activities, 

which are present to different extents in different cellulose preparations. 

4. Significance and Use 

4.1 The maximum extent of digestibility is used in conjunction with other assays to determine 

the appropriate enzyme loading for the saccharification of biomass. 

4.2 This procedure can also be used to measure the efficacy of a given pretreatment based on a 

maximum enzyme loading. 

5. Interferences 

5.1 Test specimens not suitable for analysis by this procedure include acid- and alkalinepretreated biomass samples that have not been washed. Unwashed pretreated biomass 

samples containing free acid or alkali may change solution pH to values outside the range 

of enzymatic activity; and the unwashed glucose in the biomass may influence the final 

result. 

5.2 Air drying of biomass samples prior to saccharification may have an impact on the 

maximal conversions achieved. 

6. Apparatus and Materials 

6.1 A suitable shaking or static incubator set at 50o ± 1o

C 

6.2 Any fixed speed rotator that can hold scintillation vials and operate in a static incubator. 

6.3 Scintillation vial rack/tray 

6.4 pH meter

 1 
 

 

 

 

6.5 Analytical balance, accurate to 1 mg or 0.1 mg 

6.6 YSI analyzer with appropriate membranes or equivalent glucose quantification method 

such as HPLC 

6.7 200 μL and a 1000 μL Eppendorf Pipetman pipet with tips 

6.8 20-mL glass scintillation vials equipped with plastic-lined caps 

7. Reagents 

7.1 Reagents 

7.1.1 Tetracycline (10 mg/mL in 70% ethanol). 

7.1.2 Cycloheximide (10 mg/mL in distilled water). 

7.1.3 Alternate antibiotic – Sodium Azide (20 mg/ml in distilled water) 

7.1.4 Sodium citrate buffer (0.1M, pH 4.80). 

7.1.5 Cellulase enzyme of known activity, FPU/mL. 

7.1.6 Beta-glucosidase enzyme of known activity, pNPGU/mL 

7.1.7 (If necessary) Xylanase enzyme of known protein concentration, mg/ml 

8. ES&H Considerations and Hazards 

8.1 Cycloheximide, tetracycline and sodium azide are hazardous and must be handled with 

appropriate care. 

8.2 Follow all applicable NREL chemical handling procedures 

9. Sampling, Test Specimens and Test Units 

None 

10. Procedure 

10.1 Perform LAP “Determination of Total Solids in Biomass” for all cellulose containing 

samples to be digested. Note: all lignocellulosic materials which have undergone some 

aqueous pretreatment must never be air-dried prior to enzyme digestibility, since 

irreversible pore collapse can occur in the micro-structure of the biomass leading to 

decreased enzymatic release of glucose from the cellulose. 

10.2 Weigh out a biomass sample equal to the equivalent of 0.1 g of cellulose or 0.15 g total 

biomass on a 105o

C dry weight basis (the cellulose content of the sample is initially 

determined as glucose by LAP- 002, minus the contribution of any starch present, LAP016) and add to a 20 mL glass scintillation vial. 

10.3 To each vial, add 5.0 mL 0.1 M, pH 4.8 sodium citrate buffer. To each vial, add 40 μL 

(400 μg) tetracycline and 30 μL (300 μg) cycloheximide to prevent the growth of 

organisms during the digestion. Since tetracycline and cycloheximide both pose 

reproductive hazards, 100 ul of a 2% sodium azide solution may be added as an alternate 

to the tetracycline/cycloheximide combination (Note: do not combine sodium azide with 

the tetracycline/cycloheximide combination). 

10.4 Calculate the amount of distilled water needed to bring the total volume in each vial to 

10.00 mL after addition of the enzymes specified in the following step. Add the 

appropriate calculated volume of water to each vial. All solutions and the biomass are 

assumed to have a specific gravity of 1.000 g/mL. Thus, if 0.200 g of biomass is added to 

the vial, it is assumed to occupy 0.200 mL and 9.733 mL of liquid is to be added. 

2 
 

10.5 Bring the contents of each vial to 50oC by warming in the incubator set at 50o ± 1oC. To 

each vial is added an appropriate volume of the cellulase enzyme preparation to equal 

approximately 60 FPU/g cellulose and the appropriate volume of β-glucosidase enzyme to 

equal 64 pNPGU/g cellulose. Xylase may be added at the same time. Note: If the rate of 

enzymatic release of glucose is to be measured, all contents of the vial prior to the 

addition of the enzyme must be at 50o

C. The enzymes are always added last since the 

reaction is initiated by the addition of enzyme. 

10.6 Prepare a reaction blank for the substrate. The substrate blank contains buffer, water, and 

the identical amount of substrate in 10.00 mL volume. 

10.7 Prepare enzyme blanks for cellulase, β-glucosidase, and xylanase with buffer, water, and 

the identical amount of the enzyme. 

10.8 Close the vials tightly and place them in a scintillation vial rack suitable for the shaking 

incubator or fixed speed rotator that has been placed in the incubator. Set the temperature 

to 50o

C and incubate with shaking or rotation sufficient to keep solids in constant 

suspension for a period of 72 to 168 hours or until the release of soluble sugars from the 

sample(s) becomes negligible when measured by YSI, as described in the next step. 

10.9 If the progress of the reaction is to be measured, a 0.3-0.5 mL aliquot is removed at each 

predetermined time interval after the vial contents have been well mixed by shaking. Use 

a 1-mL plastic syringe to draw a representative sample while constantly suspending the 

contents of the vial. Alternatively, this is accomplished by using a 1.0-mL pipet with the 

tip of the plastic 1.0-mL tip slightly cut off (to allow solids, as well as liquid, to be 

withdrawn into the orifice). The sample is filtered through a 0.45 μm filter and subjected 

to glucose analysis using the YSI glucose analyzer or appropriate HPLC method. 

11. Calculations 

11.1 To calculate the percent digestibility of the cellulose added to the scintillation vial, 

determine glucose concentration in the centrifuged supernatant by YSI. Subtract the 

glucose concentrations, if any, from the substrates and enzyme blanks. 

11.2 Correct for hydration (multiply the glucose reading by 0.9 to correct for the water 

molecule added upon hydrolysis of the cellulose polymer) and multiply by 10 mL total 

volume of assay. 

Example: If the glucose analyzer reading (corrected with blanks) is 9.9 mg/mL, 

then the amount of cellulose digested is: 

0.0099 g/mL x 10 mL x 0.9 = 0.0891 g 

11.3 Calculate percent digestion: 

grams cellulose digested % digestion=	 x 100 

grams cellulose added 

11.4 To report or calculate the relative percent difference (RPD) between two samples, use the 

following calculation: 

3
 
 

 

⎛(X1 − X 2) ⎞

RPD = ⎟

⎟×100 ⎜⎜

⎝ X mean ⎠

Where:
 

X1 and X2 = measured values 

Xmean = the mean of X1 and X2 

11.5 To report or calculate the root mean square deviation (RMS deviation) or the standard 

deviation (st dev) of the samples, use the following calculations. 

First find the root mean square (RMS), of the sample using
 

n ⎛ ⎞2 

⎜ ∑x ⎟ 

⎜ 1 ⎟ RMS = x m = mean = ⎜ ⎟ n ⎜

⎜ ⎟⎟ ⎝ ⎠ 

Then find the root mean square deviation, or standard deviation, using 

n 

)

2

∑(xi − xm 

1 RMSdeviation = σ = stdev = 

n 

Where: 

xm=the root mean square of all x values in the set 

n=number of samples in set 

xi=a measured value from the set 

12. Report Format 

12.1 Report the percent cellulose digested in the sample, to two decimal places, on a 105°C dry 

weight basis. Cite the basis used in the report. 

12.2 For replicate analyses of the same sample, report the average, standard deviation, and 

relative percent difference (RPD). 

13. Precision and Bias 

13.1 The precision of this protocol has not been defined because it is dependent upon cellulase 

source and substrate composition. Not only will different preparations of cellulase 

hydrolyze identical substrates to different extents, but different preparations of pretreated 

biomass exhibit different amounts of homogeneity. 

4
 
 

 

 

14. Quality Control 

14.1 Reported Significant Figures or Decimal Places: Typically results are reported as 

percentages, calculated to two decimal places, along with the standard deviation and RPD. 

The assay conditions, specifically digestion time, must be defined when reporting the 

results. 

14.2 Replicates: It is recommended the samples be run in duplicate to verify reproducibility. 

14.3 Blank: Enzyme and substrate blanks are run to correct for glucose contributions other than 

that produced by cellulose hydrolysis. 

14.4 Relative percent difference criteria: Not defined; dependent on the substrate being tested. 

Different preparations of pretreated biomass will exhibit different amounts of 

homogeneity, which will influence the extent to which they are hydrolyzed. 

14.5 Method verification standard: Solka Floc 200 NF is digested alongside the samples. 

Hydrolysis is expected to be in the range of 94.00 - 96.00%. 

14.6 Calibration verification standard: None. 

14.7 Sample size: Dependent upon percent dry weight cellulose composition. Typically 

between 0.10 and 1.00 grams of sample will be required. 

14.8 Sample storage: Pretreated samples should be stored moist, or frozen not longer than one 

month. 

14.9 Standard storage: None. 

14.10Standard preparation: None. 

14.11Definition of a batch: Any number of samples which are analyzed and recorded together. 

The maximum size of a batch will be limited by equipment constraints. 

14.12Control charts: Percent hydrolysis of Solka Floc 200 NF will be charted; use of different 

preparations of cellulase enzyme and total hydrolysis time will be noted. 

15. Appendices 

15.1 None. 

16. References 

16.1 NREL Ethanol Project CAT Task Laboratory Analytical Procedure #009, “Enzymatic 

Saccharification of Lignocellulosic Biomass”, 8/19/96. 

16.2 Grohmann, K., Torget, R., and Himmel, M. (1986), Biotech. Bioeng. Symp. No. 17, 135­

151. 

16.3 Ghose, T.K. (1987), Pure & Appl. Chem., 59, 257-268. 

16.4 Stockton, B.C., Mitchell, D.J., Grohmann, K., and Himmel, M.E. (1991), Biotech. Let., 

13, 57-62. 

16.5 Adney, B. and Baker, J. (1993), Ethanol Project Laboratory Analytical Procedures, LAP006, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, 80401. 

16.6 Ehrman, C. I. (1996), Ethnaol Project Laboratory Analytical Procedures, LAP-016, 

National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, 80401. 

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