Multiple linear regression model for predicting biomass digestibility from structural features.

A total of 147 model lignocellulose samples with a broad spectrum of structural features (lignin contents, acetyl contents, and crystallinity indices) were hydrolyzed with a wide range of cellulase loadings during 1-, 6-, and 72-h hydrolysis periods. Carbohydrate conversions at 1, 6, and 72 h were linearly proportional to the logarithm of cellulase loadings from approximately 10% to 90% conversion, indicating that the simplified HCH-1 model is valid for predicting lignocellulose digestibility. The HCH-1 model is a modified Michaelis-Menton model that accounts for the fraction of insoluble substrate available to bind with enzyme. The slopes and intercepts of a simplified HCH-1 model were correlated with structural features using multiple linear regression (MLR) models. The agreement between the measured and predicted 1-, 6-, and 72-h slopes and intercepts of glucan, xylan, and total sugar hydrolyses indicate that lignin content, acetyl content, and cellulose crystallinity are key factors that determine biomass digestibility. The 1-, 6-, and 72-h glucan, xylan, and total sugar conversions predicted from structural features using MLR models and the simplified HCH-1 model fit satisfactorily with the measured data (R(2) approximately 1.0). The parameter selection suggests that lignin content and cellulose crystallinity more strongly affect on digestibility than acetyl content. Cellulose crystallinity has greater influence during short hydrolysis periods whereas lignin content has more influence during longer hydrolysis periods. Cellulose crystallinity shows more influence on glucan hydrolysis whereas lignin content affects xylan hydrolysis to a greater extent.