(62d) Accelerated Hydrolysis of Starch Using Cationic Polyacrylamide for Production of Biofuels

Improving the efficiency of the hydrolysis of starch to glucose is key to reducing energy use during the conversion of starch to biofuels.  We have found that the addition of positively charged polyacrylamide increases the conversion rate of starch to glucose.  The aim of this study is to determine the major factors which affect the mechanism so that optimal production rates are achieved in the presence of the cationic polyelectrolytes.  A combination of analytical methods including dynamical light scattering, optical imaging, and uv-vis spectroscopy was used to study polyelectrolyte, starch, and enzyme interaction as a function of process conditions crucial to starch hydrolysis such as composition and temperature.  The results indicate that interactions caused by electrostatic forces largely drive the increase in hydrolysis rate.  These and related results will be discussed in this presentation.