The enzymatic decomposition of neutral and acid polysaccharides from spruce wood

Summary Finely ground spruce wood (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) was incubated with various commercial enzyme preparations; the incubation liquid was analysed for the presence and volume of uronic acids and neutral sugars. The tested enzyme preparations dissolved neutral and acid sugar from the woodpowder. The most effective enzyme preparations were cellulolytic enzymes with some hemicellulolytic activites. This applied to the decomposition of neutral polysaccharide as well as to polyuronide. The polysaccharides in the cell wall were almost completely broken down to low molecular weight sugars by these preparations. Pectinase preparations, on the other hand, had lower efficacy in decomposing neutral and acid polysaccharides. A difference in efficacy of the enzyme preparations in decomposing heart- or sapwood could not be ascertained.