Efficient saccharification of agave biomass using Aspergillus niger produced low-cost enzyme cocktail with hyperactive pectinase activity.

To develop a cost-effective, time-saving and efficient saccharification system for converting biomass into mono-/oligo-saccharides for production of bioethanol or other biochemicals, a relatively low recalcitrant and widely available biomass Agave americana was selected as feedstock. During the investigation of efficient enzyme cocktail, pectinase, which usually is neglect for biomass saccharification, was confirmed that it dramatically improves the saccharification of agave biomass. A production-friendly fungal strain of Aspergillus niger Gyx086 was employed for low-cost enzyme cocktails production using wheat straw as substance. The enzyme cocktail which was with hyperactive pectinase activity of 6.29 ± 0.42 U/ml could efficiently saccharify un-pretreated agave biomasses. As a result, under a mild condition at 35 °C in less than 72 h, most of the polysaccharides were completely converted into reducing sugar. The low-cost, process-simplified, and efficient biotechnology should stimulate the development of agave as feedstock for green energy and bio-based products production.