Novel Two-Step Process in Cellulose Depolymerization: Hematite-Mediated Photocatalysis by Lytic Polysaccharide Monooxygenase and Fenton Reaction

To transform cellulose from biomass into fermentable sugars for biofuel production requires efficient enzymatic degradation of cellulosic feedstocks. The recently discovered family of oxidative enzymes, lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (LPMO), has a high potential for industrial biorefinery, but its energy efficiency and scalability still have room for improvement. Hematite (α-Fe2O3) can act as a photocatalyst by providing electrons to LPMO-catalyzed reactions, is low cost, and is found abundantly on the Earth’s surface. Here, we designed a composite enzymatic photocatalysis–Fenton reaction system based on nano-α-Fe2O3. The feasibility of using α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles as a composite catalyst to facilitate LPMO-catalyzed cellulose oxidative degradation in water was tested. Furthermore, a light-induced Fenton reaction was integrated to increase the liquefaction yield of cellulose. The innovative approach finalized the cellulose degradation process with a total liquefaction yield of 93%. Nevertheless, the complex chemical reactions and products involved in this system require further investigation.