FERMENTATION OF SUGARS

Field

The application relates to a process for preparing a sugar product from lignocellulosic material by enzymatic hydrolysis and a process for preparing a fermentation product by fermentation of sugars.

Background

Lignocellulosic material is primarily composed of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin and provides an attractive platform for generating alternative energy sources to fossil fuels. The material is available in large amounts and can be converted into valuable products e.g. sugars or biofuel, such as bioethanol.

Producing fermentation products from lignocellulosic material is known in the art and generally includes the steps of pretreatment, hydrolysis, fermentation, and optionally recovery of the fermentation products.

Commonly, the sugars produced are converted into valuable fermentation products such as ethanol by microorganisms like yeast. The fermentation takes place in a separate, preferably anaerobic, process step, either in the same or in a different vessel.

In general, cost of enzyme production is a major cost factor in the overall production process of fermentation products from lignocellulosic material. Thus far, reduction of enzyme production costs is achieved by applying enzyme products from a single or from multiple microbial sources (see WO 2008/008793) with broader and/or higher (specific) hydrolytic activity. This leads to a lower enzyme need, faster conversion rates and/or higher conversion yields and thus to lower overall production costs.

Next to the optimization of enzymes, optimization of process design is a crucial tool to reduce overall costs of the production of sugar products and fermentation products. For example, sugar loss by means of sugar degradation products increases with decreasing yield. Since sugar degradation products can inhibit fermentation, process design should be optimized to decrease the amount of these sugar degradation products.

For economic reasons, it is therefore desirable to include new and innovative process configurations aimed at reducing overall production costs in the process involving pretreatment, hydrolysis and fermentation of lignocellulosic material.

Summary An object of the application is to provide an improved process for the preparation of a sugar product and/or a fermentation product from lignocellulosic material. The process is improved by using specific hydrolysis conditions.

Detailed description

Throughout the present specification and the accompanying claims, the words "comprise" and "include" and variations such as "comprises", "comprising", "includes" and "including" are to be interpreted inclusively. That is, these words are intended to convey the possible inclusion of other elements or integers not specifically recited, where the context allows. The articles“a” and “an” are used herein to refer to one or to more than one (/.e. to one or at least one) of the grammatical object of the article. By way of example,“an element” may mean one element or more than one element.

Described herein is a process for the preparation of a sugar product from lignocellulosic material, said process comprising the steps of (a) pretreating the lignocellulosic material, (b) hydrolysing the pretreated lignocellulosic material with an enzyme composition to obtain a hydrolysed mixture, (c) adding laccase to the hydrolysed mixture obtained in step (b), (d) treating the hydrolysed mixture with the laccase to obtain the sugar product, and (e) optionally, recovering the sugar product. The term “sugar product”, “one or more sugars” or “sugar” are used interchangeably herein.

Described herein is also a process for the preparation of a fermentation product from lignocellulosic material, comprising the steps of (a) pretreating the lignocellulosic material, (b) hydrolysing the pretreated lignocellulosic material with an enzyme composition to obtain a hydrolysed mixture, (c) adding laccase to the hydrolysed mixture obtained in step (b), (d) treating the hydrolysed mixture with the laccase to obtain the sugar product, (e) fermenting the sugar product to produce the fermentation product; and (f) optionally, recovering the fermentation product.

In an embodiment the pretreatment step and/or step (b) and/or step (d) are done in a reactor. In an embodiment the pretreatment step and/or step (b) and/or step (d) may also be done in two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten or even more reactors. So, the term“reactor” is not limited to a single reactor but may mean multiple reactors. In an embodiment the pretreatment step is performed in a different reactor than step (b) and/or step (d).

In an embodiment step (b) comprises a liquefaction step and a saccharification step. In an embodiment the liquefaction step and the saccharification step each can be done in a single reactor, but each may also be done in multiple reactors. In an embodiment the liquefaction step and the saccharification step are done in different reactors.

In an embodiment the pretreatment is done in a reactor having a volume of 30 - 200 m ³ , preferably of 100 - 150 m ³ . In case multiple reactors are used in the pretreatment of the processes as described herein, they may have the same volume, but also may have a different volume. In an embodiment the pretreatment reactor used in the processes as described herein has a ratio height to diameter of 3: 1 to 12: 1.

In an embodiment step (b) and/or step (d) is done in a reactor having a volume of at least 10 m ³ . In an embodiment step (b) and/or step (d) is done in a reactor having a volume of 10 - 5000 m ³ , preferably of 50 - 5000 m ³ . In case multiple reactors are used in step (b) and/or step (d), they may have the same volume, but also may have a different volume. In an embodiment step (b) and step (d) are done in the same reactor(s).

In an embodiment the reactor in which step (b) and/or step (d) is done has a ratio height to diameter of to 0.1 : 1 to 10: 1.

In an embodiment oxygen is added during step (b) and/or step (d). Adding of oxygen means actively introducing oxygen into the content of the hydrolysis reactor(s). Ergo, in an embodiment the processes as described herein further comprise introducing oxygen during step (b) and/or step (d). Oxygen is introduced into the content of the hydrolysis reactor. In an embodiment oxygen is introduced during at least a part of step (b) and/or step (d). Oxygen can be introduced continuously or discontinuously during step (b) and/or step (d). In an embodiment oxygen is introduced one or more times during the process for the preparation of a sugar product from material as described herein. Oxygen is added to the reactors used in step (b) and/or step (d).

Oxygen can be introduced in several forms. For example, oxygen can be introduced as oxygen gas, oxygen-enriched gas, such as oxygen-enriched air, or air. Oxygen may also be introduced by means of in situ oxygen generation.

Examples how to add oxygen include, but are not limited to, addition of oxygen by means of sparging, blowing, electrolysis, chemical addition of oxygen, filling a reactor used in step (b) and/or step (d) from the top (plunging material into the reactor and consequently introducing oxygen into the material) and addition of oxygen to the headspace of a reactor. When oxygen is added to the headspace of the reactor, sufficient oxygen necessary for the hydrolysis reaction may be supplied. In general, the amount of oxygen added to the reactor can be controlled and/or varied. Restriction of the oxygen supplied is possible by adding only oxygen during part of the hydrolysis time in the reactor. Another option is adding oxygen at a low concentration, for example by using a mixture of air and recycled air (air leaving the reactor) or by“diluting” air with an inert gas. Increasing the amount of oxygen added can be achieved by addition of oxygen during longer periods of the hydrolysis time, by adding the oxygen at a higher concentration or by adding more air. Another way to control the oxygen concentration is to add an oxygen consumer and/or an oxygen generator. Oxygen can be introduced into pretreated lignocellulosic material present in the reactor. It can also be introduced into the headspace of the reactor. Oxygen can be blown into pretreated lignocellulosic material present in the reactor. It can also be blown into the headspace of the reactor.

In an embodiment oxygen is added to the reactor used in step (b) before and/or during and/or after the addition of pretreated lignocellulosic material to the reactor. The oxygen may be introduced together with the pretreated lignocellulosic material that enters the reactor. The oxygen may be introduced into the material stream that will enter the reactor or with part of the reactor contents that passes an external loop of the reactor. Preferably, oxygen is added when the pretreated lignocellulosic material is present in the reactor.

In an embodiment oxygen is added to the reactor used in step (d) before and/or during and/or after the addition of the hydrolysed mixture obtained in step (b) to the reactor and/or before and/or during and/or after the addition of laccase to the reactor.

In an embodiment oxygen is added during step (b) and/or step (d) to keep the dissolved oxygen at 5% to 95% of the saturation level. In an embodiment oxygen is added during step (b) and/or step (d) to keep the dissolved oxygen at 1 1 % to 80% of the saturation level. In an embodiment oxygen is added during step (b) and/or step (d) to keep the dissolved oxygen at 20% to 60% of the saturation level.

In an embodiment the hydrolysed mixture obtained in step (b) comprises insoluble dry matter comprising 1-40% (w/w) insoluble glucan. In an embodiment the hydrolysed mixture obtained in step (b) comprises insoluble dry matter comprising 2-30% (w/w) insoluble glucan. In an embodiment the hydrolysed mixture obtained in step (b) comprises insoluble dry matter comprising 5-25% (w/w) insoluble glucan. In an embodiment the hydrolysed mixture obtained in step (b) comprises insoluble dry matter comprising 30-80% (w/w) insoluble lignin. In an embodiment the hydrolysed mixture obtained in step (b) comprises insoluble dry matter comprising 35-75% (w/w) insoluble lignin. In an embodiment the hydrolysed mixture obtained in step (b) comprises insoluble dry matter comprising 40-70% (w/w) insoluble lignin. In an embodiment the hydrolysed mixture obtained in step (b) comprises insoluble dry matter comprising 1-40% (w/w) insoluble glucan and 30-80% (w/w) insoluble lignin. In an embodiment the hydrolysed mixture obtained in step (b) comprises insoluble dry matter comprising 2-30% (w/w) insoluble glucan and 35-75% (w/w) insoluble lignin. In an embodiment the hydrolysed mixture obtained in step (b) comprises insoluble dry matter comprising 5-25% (w/w) insoluble glucan and 40-70% (w/w) insoluble lignin. In an embodiment the hydrolysed mixture obtained in step (b) as described above further comprises insoluble dry matter comprising 0.5-5% (w/w) insoluble xylan. In an embodiment the hydrolysed mixture obtained in step (b) as described above further comprises insoluble dry matter comprising 1-4% (w/w) insoluble xylan. It is to be understood that the sum of the indicated ranges is not higher than 100%.

The term "laccase" means a polyphenol oxidase (EC 1.10.3.2) that catalyzes the oxidation of a variety of inorganic and aromatic compounds, particularly phenols, with the concomitant reduction of molecular oxygen to water. Laccases are multi-copper-containing enzymes. Laccases are produced by plants, bacteria and also a wide variety of fungi, including Ascomycetes such as Aspergillus, Neurospora, Rasamsonia, Trichoderma and Podospora ; Deuteromycete including Botrytis, and Basidiomycetes such as Collybia, Fomes, Lentinus, Pleurotus, Trametes, Stereum, Laetiporus, Rigidoporus, Coriolopsis, Cerrena, Phlebia and perfect forms of Rhizoctonia. In an embodiment the laccase is a fungal laccase. Fungal laccases include, but are not limited to, Polyporus laccase, preferably Polyporus pinsitus laccase such as the laccase as described in WO 96/00290 or WO 2014/028833 or Polyporus versicolor laccase; Melanocarpus laccase, preferably Melanocarpus albomyces laccase; Myceliophtora laccase, preferably Myceliophtora thermophila laccase, such as the laccase as described in WO 95/33836 or WO 2006/012902; Coprinus laccase, preferably Coprinus cinereus laccase such as the laccase as described in WO 97/008325; Pycnoporus laccase, preferably Pycnoporus cinnabarinus laccase; Rhizoctonia laccase, preferably Rhizoctonia solani laccase such as the laccase as described in WO 95/007988 or WO 97/009431 or Rhizoctonia praticola laccase; Scytalidium laccase, preferably Scytalidium thermophilum laccase such as the laccase as described in WO 95/033837 or WO 97/019999; Corynascus laccase, preferably Corynascus thermophilus laccase such as the laccase as described in WO 2013/087027, Pyricularia laccase, preferably Pyricularia oryzae laccase; Rasamsonia laccase, preferably Rasamsonia emersonii laccase. In an embodiment a laccase as used herein comprises an amino acid sequence comprising at least 60% identity to the mature part of SEQ ID NO:4. The mature part of SEQ ID NO:4 comprises amino acids 21-596 of SEQ ID NO:4. In an embodiment a laccase as used herein comprises an amino acid sequence comprising at least 65% identity, at least 70% identity, at least 75% identity, at least 80% identity, at least 85% identity, at least 90% identity, at least 95% identity, at least 96% identity, at least 97% identity, at least 98% identity, at least 99% identity, to the mature part of SEQ ID NO:4. In an embodiment a laccase as used herein comprises an amino acid sequence comprising the mature part of SEQ ID NO:4. In an embodiment a laccase as used herein comprises an amino acid sequence consisting of the mature part of SEQ ID NO:4. SEQ ID NO:4 can be encoded by the nucleotide sequences as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 (codon-pair optimized sequence), SEQ ID NO:2 (cDNA sequence) and/or SEQ ID NO:3 (gDNA sequence). Suitable bacterial laccases may also be used. They include those derived from Streptomyces coelicolor and Trametes versicolor, such as the laccase as described in WO 96/000290.

Laccase activity can be determined from the oxidation of syringaldazine under aerobic conditions. The violet color produced is photometered at 530 nm. The analytical conditions are 19 mM syringaldazine, 23.2 mM sodium acetate pH 5.5, 30°C, one-minute reaction time. One laccase unit (LACU) is the amount of enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of 1.0 micromole of syringaldazine per minute at these conditions. Alternatively, laccase activity can be determined at 25°C by measuring the oxidation of 2 mM ABTS in 100 mM phosphate-citrate buffer pH 4.0. The formation of cation radical ABTS" ⁺ can be followed by absorbance measured at 420 nm (e ₄ 2o = 36 mM ¹ cnrr ¹ ) using an UV-Vis spectrophotometer. One enzyme unit (U) is defined as the amount of enzyme which oxidizes 1 pnnol of substrate per minute in the assay conditions.

In an embodiment the laccase is added in the form an enzyme composition. The enzyme composition comprising laccase may comprise other enzymes. These enzymes are extensively described herein. The enzyme composition may be a whole fermentation broth, such as a whole fermentation broth of a fungus. In an embodiment the laccase is (partly) purified and the laccase is added as a single enzyme. In case the laccase is added in the form an enzyme composition, this enzyme composition can be called second enzyme composition. This way it can be distinguished from the enzyme composition used in step (b) of the processes as described herein. The enzyme composition used in step (b) of the processes as described herein can be called first enzyme composition then.

In an embodiment the amount of laccase added in step (c) is from 0.01 to 20 mg/g glucan in the pretreated lignocellulosic material. In an embodiment the amount of laccase added in step (c) is from 0.05 to 15 mg/g glucan in the pretreated lignocellulosic material. In an embodiment the amount of laccase added in step (c) is from 0.1 to 10 mg/g glucan in the pretreated lignocellulosic material. In an embodiment the amount of laccase added in step (c) is from 0.15 to 5 mg/g glucan in the pretreated lignocellulosic material.

In an embodiment the enzyme composition is from a fungus, preferably a filamentous fungus. In an embodiment the enzymes in the enzyme composition are derived from a fungus, preferably a filamentous fungus. In an embodiment the enzyme composition comprises a fungal enzyme, preferably a filamentous fungal enzyme. "Filamentous fungi" include all filamentous forms of the subdivision Eumycota and Oomycota (as defined by Hawksworth et al., In, Ainsworth and Bisby's Dictionary of The Fungi, 8th edition, 1995, CAB International, University Press, Cambridge, UK). Filamentous fungi include, but are not limited to Acremonium, Agaricus, Aspergillus, Aureobasidium, Beauvaria, Cephalosporium, Ceriporiopsis, Chaetomium paecilomyces, Chrysosporium, Claviceps, Cochiobolus, Coprinus, Cryptococcus, Cyathus, Emericella, Endothia, Endothia mucor, Filibasidium, Fusarium, Geosmithia, Gilocladium, Humicola, Magnaporthe, Mucor, Myceliophthora, Myrothecium, Neocallimastix, Neurospora, Paecilomyces, Penicillium, Piromyces, Panerochaete, Pleurotus, Podospora, Pyricularia, Rasamsonia, Rhizomucor, Rhizopus, Scylatidium, Schizophyllum, Stagonospora, Talaromyces, Thermoascus, Thermomyces, Thielavia, Tolypocladium, Trametes pleurotus, Trichoderma and Trichophyton. In a preferred embodiment the fungus is Rasamsonia, with Rasamsonia emersonii being most preferred. Ergo, the processes as described herein are advantageously applied in combination with enzymes derived from a microorganism of the genus Rasamsonia or the enzymes used in the processes as described herein comprise a Rasamsonia enzyme.

Several strains of filamentous fungi are readily accessible to the public in a number of culture collections, such as the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH (DSM), Centraalbureau Voor Schimmelcultures (CBS), and Agricultural Research Service Patent Culture Collection, Northern Regional Research Center (NRRL).

Preferably, the processes as described herein are done with thermostable enzymes. “Thermostable” enzyme as used herein means that the enzyme has a temperature optimum of 50°C or higher, 60°C or higher, 70°C or higher, 75°C or higher, 80°C or higher, or even 85°C or higher. They may for example be isolated from thermophilic microorganisms or may be designed by the skilled person and artificially synthesized. In one embodiment the polynucleotides encoding the thermostable enzymes may be isolated or obtained from thermophilic or thermotolerant filamentous fungi or isolated from non-thermophilic or non-thermotolerant fungi but are found to be thermostable. By“thermophilic fungus” is meant a fungus that grows at a temperature of 50°C or higher. By“themotolerant” fungus is meant a fungus that grows at a temperature of 45°C or higher, having a maximum near 50°C.

Suitable thermophilic or thermotolerant fungal cells may be Humicola, Rhizomucor, Myceliophthora , Rasamsonia, Talaromyces, Thermomyces, Thermoascus or Thielavia cells, preferably Rasamsonia cells. Preferred thermophilic or thermotolerant fungi are Humicola grisea var. thermoidea, Humicola lanuginosa, Myceliophthora thermophila, Papulaspora thermophilia, Rasamsonia byssochlamydoides, Rasamsonia emersonii, Rasamsonia argillacea, Rasamsonia eburnean, Rasamsonia brevistipitata, Rasamsonia cylindrospora, Rhizomucor pusillus, Rhizomucor miehei, Talaromyces bacillisporus, Talaromyces leycettanus, Talaromyces thermophilus, Thermomyces lenuginosus, Thermoascus crustaceus, Thermoascus thermophilus Thermoascus aurantiacus and Thielavia terrestris.

Rasamsonia is a new genus comprising thermotolerant and thermophilic Talaromyces and Geosmithia species. Based on phenotypic, physiological and molecular data, the species Talaromyces emersonii, Talaromyces byssochlamydoides, Talaromyces eburneus, Geosmithia argillacea and Geosmithia cylindrospora were transferred to Rasamsonia gen. nov. Talaromyces emersonii, Penicillium geosmithia emersonii and Rasamsonia emersonii are used interchangeably herein.

In the processes as described herein enzyme compositions are used. In an embodiment the compositions are stable.“Stable enzyme compositions” as used herein means that the enzyme compositions retain activity after 30 hours of hydrolysis reaction time, preferably at least 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80% 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% of its initial activity after 30 hours of hydrolysis reaction time. In an embodiment the enzyme composition retains activity after 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500 hours of hydrolysis reaction time.

The enzymes may be prepared by fermentation of a suitable substrate with a suitable microorganism, e.g. Rasamsonia emersonii or Aspergillus niger, wherein the enzymes are produced by the microorganism. The microorganism may be altered to improve or to make the enzymes. For example, the microorganism may be mutated by classical strain improvement procedures or by recombinant DNA techniques. Therefore, the microorganisms mentioned herein can be used as such to produce the enzymes or may be altered to increase the production or to produce altered enzymes which might include heterologous enzymes, e.g. cellulases, thus enzymes that are not originally produced by that microorganism. Preferably, a fungus, more preferably a filamentous fungus is used to produce the enzymes. Advantageously, a thermophilic or thermotolerant microorganism is used. Optionally, a substrate is used that induces the expression of the enzymes by the enzyme producing microorganism.

The enzymes are used to hydrolyse the pretreated lignocellulosic material (release sugars from lignocellulosic material that comprises polysaccharides). The major polysaccharides are celluloses (glucans) and hemicelluloses (xylans, heteroxylans and xyloglucans). In addition, some hemicellulose may be present as glucomannans, for example in wood-derived lignocellulosic material. The enzymatic hydrolysis of these polysaccharides to soluble sugars, including both monomers and multimers, for example glucose, cellobiose, xylose, arabinose, galactose, fructose, mannose, rhamnose, ribose, galacturonic acid, glucuronic acid and other hexoses and pentoses occurs under the action of different enzymes acting in concert. A sugar product comprises soluble sugars, including both monomers and multimers. In an embodiment the sugar product comprises glucose, galactose and arabinose. Examples of other sugars are cellobiose, xylose, arabinose, galactose, fructose, mannose, rhamnose, ribose, galacturonic acid, glucoronic acid and other hexoses and pentoses. The sugar product may be used as such or may be further processed for example recovered and/or purified.

In addition, pectins and other pectic substances such as arabinans may make up considerably proportion of the dry mass of typically cell walls from non-woody plant tissues (about a quarter to half of dry mass may be pectins). Furthermore, the lignocellulosic material comprises lignin.

Enzymes that may be used in the processes as described herein are described in more detail below.

Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases, endoglucanases (EG) and exo-cellobiohydrolases (CBH) catalyze the hydrolysis of insoluble cellulose to products such as cellooligosaccharides (cellobiose as a main product), while b-glucosidases (BG) convert the oligosaccharides, mainly cellobiose and cellotriose, to glucose.

Xylanases together with other accessory enzymes, for example a-L- arabinofuranosidases, feruloyl and acetylxylan esterases, glucuronidases, and b-xylosidases catalyze the hydrolysis of hemicellulose.

An enzyme composition for use in the processes as described herein may comprise at least two activities, although typically a composition will comprise more than two activities, for example, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine or even more activities. Typically, an enzyme composition for use in the processes as described herein comprises at least two cellulases. The at least two cellulases may contain the same or different activities. The enzyme composition for use in the processes as described herein may also comprises at least one enzyme other than a cellulase. Preferably, the at least one other enzyme has an auxiliary enzyme activity, i.e. an additional activity which, either directly or indirectly leads to lignocellulose degradation. Examples of such auxiliary activities are mentioned herein and include, but are not limited, to hemicellulases.

An enzyme composition for use in the processes as described herein at least comprises a lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (LPMO), an endoglucanase (EG), a cellobiohydrolase (CBH), a endoxylanase (EX), a beta-xylosidase (BX) and a beta-glucosidase (BG). An enzyme composition may comprise more than one enzyme activity per activity class. For example, a composition may comprise two endoglucanases, for example an endoglucanase having endo- 1 ,3(1 ,4)-b glucanase activity and an endoglucanase having endo- -1 ,4-glucanase activity.

A composition for use in the processes as described herein may be derived from a fungus, such as a filamentous fungus, such as Rasamsonia, such as Rasamsonia emersonii. In an embodiment at least one of enzymes may be derived from Rasamsonia emersonii. If needed, the enzyme can be supplemented with additional enzymes from other sources. Such additional enzymes may be derived from classical sources and/or produced by genetically modified organisms.

In addition, enzymes in the enzyme compositions for use in the processes as described herein may be able to work at low pH. For the purposes of this invention, low pH indicates a pH of

5.5 or lower, 5 or lower, 4.9 or lower, 4.8 or lower, 4.7 or lower, 4.6 or lower, 4.5 or lower, 4.4 or lower, 4.3 or lower, 4.2 or lower, 4.1 or lower, 4.0 or lower 3.9 or lower, 3.8 or lower, 3.7 or lower,

3.6 or lower, 3.5 or lower.

The enzyme composition for use in the processes as described herein may comprise a cellulase and/or a hemicellulase and/or a pectinase from Rasamsonia. They may also comprise a cellulase and/or a hemicellulase and/or a pectinase from a source other than Rasamsonia. They may be used together with one or more Rasamsonia enzymes or they may be used without additional Rasamsonia enzymes being present.

In an embodiment an enzyme composition for use in the processes as described herein comprises a lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (LPMO), an endoglucanase (EG), a cellobiohydrolase I (CBHI), a cellobiohydrolase II (CBHII), a beta-glucosidase (BG), an endoxylanase (EX) and a beta-xylosidase (BX).

In an embodiment an enzyme composition as described herein comprises a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of a cellobiohydrolase, an endoglucanase, a beta-glucosidase, a beta-xylosidase, an endoxylanase, a lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase and any combination thereof.

An enzyme composition for use in the processes as described herein may comprise one type of cellulase activity and/or hemicellulase activity and/or pectinase activity provided by a composition as described herein and a second type of cellulase activity and/or hemicellulase activity and/or pectinase activity provided by an additional cellulase/hemicellulase/pectinase.

In an embodiment the enzyme composition is added in the form of a whole fermentation broth of a fungus. In an embodiment said broth comprising an endoglucanase, a cellobiohydrolase, a beta-glucosidase, a endoxylanase, a beta-xylosidase and a lytic monosaccharide oxygenase. These enzymes have been described in more detail herein.

As used herein, a cellulase is any polypeptide which is capable of degrading or modifying cellulose. A polypeptide which is capable of degrading cellulose is one which is capable of catalyzing the process of breaking down cellulose into smaller units, either partially, for example into cellodextrins, or completely into glucose monomers. A cellulase as described herein may give rise to a mixed population of cellodextrins and glucose monomers. Such degradation will typically take place by way of a hydrolysis reaction.

As used herein, a hemicellulase is any polypeptide which is capable of degrading or modifying hemicellulose. That is to say, a hemicellulase may be capable of degrading or modifying one or more of xylan, glucuronoxylan, arabinoxylan, glucomannan and xyloglucan. A polypeptide which is capable of degrading a hemicellulose is one which is capable of catalyzing the process of breaking down the hemicellulose into smaller polysaccharides, either partially, for example into oligosaccharides, or completely into sugar monomers, for example hexose or pentose sugar monomers. A hemicellulase as described herein may give rise to a mixed population of oligosaccharides and sugar monomers. Such degradation will typically take place by way of a hydrolysis reaction.

As used herein, a pectinase is any polypeptide which is capable of degrading or modifying pectin. A polypeptide which is capable of degrading pectin is one which is capable of catalyzing the process of breaking down pectin into smaller units, either partially, for example into oligosaccharides, or completely into sugar monomers. A pectinase as described herein may give rise to a mixed population of oligosacchardies and sugar monomers. Such degradation will typically take place by way of a hydrolysis reaction.

Accordingly, an enzyme composition for use in the processes as described herein may comprise one or more of the following enzymes, a lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (e.g. GH61 ), a cellobiohydrolase, an endo^-1 ,4-glucanase, a beta-glucosidase, and a b-(1 ,3)(1 ,4)- glucanase. A composition for use in the processes as described herein may also comprise one or more hemicellulases, for example, an endoxylanase, a b-xylosidase, a a-L-arabionofuranosidase, an a-D-glucuronidase, an acetyl xylan esterase, a feruloyl esterase, a coumaroyl esterase, an o galactosidase, a b-galactosidase, a b-mannanase and/or a b-mannosidase. A composition for use in the processes as described herein may also comprise one or more pectinases, for example, an endo-polygalacturonase, a pectin-methyl esterase, an endo-galactanase, a beta-galactosidase, a pectin-acetyl esterase, an endo-pectin lyase, pectate lyase, alpha-rhamnosidase, an exo- galacturonase, an expolygalacturonate lyase, a rhamnogalacturonan hydrolase, a rhamnogalacturonan lyase, a rhamnogalacturonan acetyl esterase, a rhamnogalacturonan galacturonohydrolase, and/or a xylogalacturonase. In addition, one or more of the following enzymes, an amylase, a protease, a lipase, a ligninase, a hexosyltransferase, a glucuronidase, an expansin, a cellulose induced protein or a cellulose integrating protein or like protein may be present in a composition for use in the processes as described herein (these are referred to as auxiliary activities above). As used herein, lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases are enzymes that have recently been classified by CAZy in family AA9 (Auxiliary Activity Family 9) or family AA10 (Auxiliary Activity Family 10). Ergo, there exist AA9 lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases and AA10 lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases. Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases are able to open a crystalline glucan structure and enhance the action of cellulases on lignocellulose substrates. They are enzymes having cellulolytic enhancing activity. Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases may also affect cello-oligosaccharides. According to the latest literature, (see Isaksen et al., Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 289, no. 5, p. 2632-2642), proteins named GH61 (glycoside hydrolase family 61 or sometimes referred to EGIV) are lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases. GH61 was originally classified as endoglucanase based on measurement of very weak endo-1 ,4- -d- glucanase activity in one family member but have recently been reclassified by CAZy in family AA9. CBM33 (family 33 carbohydrate-binding module) is also a lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (see Isaksen et al, Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 289, no. 5, pp. 2632-2642). CAZy has recently reclassified CBM33 in the AA10 family.

In an embodiment the lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase comprises an AA9 lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase. This means that at least one of the lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases in the enzyme composition is an AA9 lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase. In an embodiment, all lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases in the enzyme composition are AA9 lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase.

In an embodiment the enzyme composition comprises a lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase from Thermoascus, such as Thermoascus aurantiacus, such as the one described in WO 2005/074656 as SEQ ID NO:2 and SEQ ID NO: 1 in W02014/130812 and in WO 2010/065830; or from Thielavia, such as Thielavia terrestris, such as the one described in WO 2005/074647 as SEQ ID NO: 8 or SEQ ID NO:4 in W02014/130812 and in WO 2008/148131 , and WO 201 1/035027; or from Aspergillus, such as Aspergillus fumigatus, such as the one described in WO 2010/138754 as SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO: 3 in W02014/130812; or from Penicillium, such as Penicillium emersonii, such as the one disclosed as SEQ ID NO:2 in WO 201 1/041397 or SEQ ID NO:2 in W02014/130812. Other suitable lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases include, but are not limited to, Trichoderma reesei (see WO 2007/089290), Myceliophthora thermophila (see WO 2009/085935, WO 2009/085859, WO 2009/085864, WO 2009/085868), Penicillium pinophilum (see WO 201 1/005867), Thermoascus sp. (see WO 201 1/039319), and Thermoascus crustaceous (see WO 201 1/041504). Other cellulolytic enzymes that may be comprised in the enzyme composition are described in WO 98/13465, WO 98/015619, WO 98/015633, WO 99/06574, WO 99/10481 , WO 99/025847, WO 99/031255, WO 2002/101078, WO 2003/027306, WO 2003/052054, WO 2003/052055, WO 2003/052056, WO 2003/052057, WO 2003/0521 18, WO

2004/016760, WO 2004/043980, WO 2004/048592, WO 2005/001065, WO 2005/028636, WO

2005/093050, WO 2005/093073, WO 2006/074005, WO 2006/1 17432, WO 2007/071818, WO

2007/071820, WO 2008/008070, WO 2008/008793, US 5,457,046, US 5,648,263, and US 5,686,593, to name just a few. In a preferred embodiment, the lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase is from Rasamsonia, e.g. Rasamsonia emersonii (see WO 2012/000892).

As used herein, endoglucanases are enzymes which are capable of catalyzing the endohydrolysis of 1 ,4^-D-glucosidic linkages in cellulose, lichenin or cereal b-D-glucans. They belong to EC 3.2.1.4 and may also be capable of hydrolyzing 1 ,4-linkages in b-D-glucans also containing 1 ,3-linkages. Endoglucanases may also be referred to as cellulases, avicelases, b-1 ,4- endoglucan hydrolases, b-I ^^Iuoqhqebe, carboxymethyl cellulases, celludextrinases, endo-1 ,4- b-D-glucanases, endo-1 ,4^-D-glucanohydrolases or endo-1 ,4^-glucanases.

In an embodiment the endoglucanase comprises a GH5 endoglucanase and/or a GH7 endoglucanase. This means that at least one of the endoglucanases in the enzyme composition is a GH5 endoglucanase or a GH7 endoglucanase. In case there are more endoglucanases in the enzyme composition, these endoglucanases can be GH5 endoglucanases, GH7 endoglucanases or a combination of GH5 endoglucanases and GH7 endoglucanases. In a preferred embodiment the endoglucanase comprises a GH5 endoglucanase.

In an embodiment the enzyme composition comprises an endoglucanase from Trichoderma, such as Trichoderma reeser, from Humicola, such as a strain of Humicola insolens ; from Aspergillus, such as Aspergillus aculeatus or Aspergillus kawachir, from Erwinia, such as Erwinia carotovara ; from Fusarium , such as Fusarium oxysporurrr, from Thielavia, such as Thielavia terrestris ; from Flumicola, such as Flumicola grisea var. thermoidea or Flumicola insolens ; from Melanocarpus, such as Melanocarpus albomyces ; from Neurospora, such as Neurospora crassa ; from Myceliophthora , such as Myceliophthora thermophila from Cladorrhinum, such as Cladorrhinum foecundissimum ; and/or from Chrysosporium, such as a strain of Chrysosporium lucknowense. In a preferred embodiment the endoglucanase is from Rasamsonia, such as a strain of Rasamsonia emersonii (see WO 01/70998). In an embodiment even a bacterial endoglucanase can be used including, but are not limited to, Acidothermus cellulolyticus endoglucanase (see WO 91/05039; WO 93/15186; US 5,275,944; WO 96/02551 ; US 5,536,655, WO 00/70031 , WO 05/093050); Thermobifida fusca endoglucanase III (see WO 05/093050); and Thermobifida fusca endoglucanase V (see WO 05/093050).

As used herein, beta-xylosidases (EC 3.2.1.37) are polypeptides which are capable of catalysing the hydrolysis of 1 ,4^-D-xylans, to remove successive D-xylose residues from the nonreducing termini. Beta-xylosidases may also hydrolyze xylobiose. Beta-xylosidase may also be referred to as xylan 1 ,4^-xylosidase, 1 ,4^-D-xylan xylohydrolase, exo-1 ,4^-xylosidase or xylobiase.

In an embodiment the beta-xylosidase comprises a GH3 beta-xylosidase. This means that at least one of the beta-xylosidases in the enzyme composition is a GH3 beta-xylosidase. In an embodiment all beta-xylosidases in the enzyme composition are GH3 beta-xylosidases.

In an embodiment the enzyme composition comprises a beta-xylosidase from Neurospora crassa, Aspergillus fumigatus or Trichoderma reesei. In a preferred embodiment the enzyme composition comprises a beta-xylosidase from Rasamsonia, such as Rasamsonia emersonii (see WO 2014/1 18360).

As used herein, an endoxylanase (EC 3.2.1 .8) is any polypeptide which is capable of catalysing the endohydrolysis of 1 ,4^-D-xylosidic linkages in xylans. This enzyme may also be referred to as endo-1 ,4^-xylanase or 1 ,4^-D-xylan xylanohydrolase. An alternative is EC 3.2.1.136, a glucuronoarabinoxylan endoxylanase, an enzyme that is able to hydrolyze 1 ,4 xylosidic linkages in glucuronoarabinoxylans.

In an embodiment the endoxylanase comprises a GH10 xylanase. This means that at least one of the endoxylanases in the enzyme composition is a GH10 xylanase. In an embodiment all endoxylanases in the enzyme composition are GH10 xylanases.

In an embodiment the enzyme composition comprises an endoxylanase from Aspergillus aculeatus (see WO 94/21785), Aspergillus fumigatus (see WO 2006/078256), Penicillium pinophilum (see WO 201 1/041405), Penicillium sp. (see WO 2010/126772), Thielavia terrestris NRRL 8126 (see WO 2009/079210), Talaromyces leycettanus, Thermobifida fusca, or Trichophaea saccata GH10 (see WO 201 1/057083). In a preferred embodiment the enzyme composition comprises an endoxylanase from Rasamsonia, such as Rasamsonia emersonii (see WO 02/24926).

As used herein, a beta-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21 ) is any polypeptide which is capable of catalysing the hydrolysis of terminal, non-reducing b-D-glucose residues with release of b-D- glucose. Such a polypeptide may have a wide specificity for b-D-glucosides and may also hydrolyze one or more of the following: a b-D-galactoside, an a-L-arabinoside, a b-D-xyloside or a b-D- fucoside. This enzyme may also be referred to as amygdalase, b-D-glucoside glucohydrolase, cellobiase or gentobiase.

In an embodiment the enzyme composition comprises a beta-glucosidase from Aspergillus, such as Aspergillus oryzae, such as the one disclosed in WO 02/095014 or the fusion protein having beta-glucosidase activity disclosed in WO 2008/057637, or Aspergillus fumigatus, such as the one disclosed as SEQ ID NO:2 in WO 2005/047499 or SEQ ID NO:5 in WO 2014/130812 or an Aspergillus fumigatus beta-glucosidase variant, such as one disclosed in WO 2012/044915, such as one with the following substitutions: F100D, S283G, N456E, F512Y (using SEQ ID NO: 5 in WO 2014/130812 for numbering), or Aspergillus aculeatus, Aspergillus niger or Aspergillus kawachi. In another embodiment the beta-glucosidase is derived from Penicillium, such as Penicillium brasilianum disclosed as SEQ ID NO:2 in WO 2007/019442, or from Trichoderma, such as Trichoderma reesei, such as ones described in US 6,022,725, US 6,982,159, US 7,045,332, US 7,005,289, US 2006/0258554 US 2004/0102619. In an embodiment, even a bacterial beta- glucosidase can be used. In another embodiment the beta-glucosidase is derived from Thielavia terrestris (WO 201 1/035029) or Trichophaea saccata (WO 2007/019442). In a preferred embodiment the enzyme composition comprises a beta-glucosidase from Rasamsonia, such as Rasamsonia emersonii (see WO 2012/000886). As used herein, a cellobiohydrolase (EC 3.2.1.91 ) is any polypeptide which is capable of catalyzing the hydrolysis of 1 ,4^-D-glucosidic linkages in cellulose or cellotetraose, releasing cellobiose from the ends of the chains. This enzyme may also be referred to as cellulase 1 ,4-b- cellobiosidase, 1 ,4^-cellobiohydrolase, 1 ,4^-D-glucan cellobiohydrolase, avicelase, bco-1 ,4-b-0- glucanase, exocellobiohydrolase or exoglucanase.

In an embodiment the enzyme composition comprises a cellobiohydrolase I from Aspergillus, such as Aspergillus fumigatus, such as the Cel7A CBH I disclosed in SEQ ID NO:6 in WO 201 1/057140 or SEQ ID NO:6 in WO 2014/130812; from Trichoderma, such as Trichoderma reesei ; from Chaetomium, such as Chaetomium thermophilurrr, from Talaromyces, such as Talaromyces leycettanus or from Penicillium, such as Penicillium emersonii. In a preferred embodiment the enzyme composition comprises a cellobiohydrolase I from Rasamsonia, such as Rasamsonia emersonii (see WO 2010/122141 ).

In an embodiment the enzyme composition comprises a cellobiohydrolase II from Aspergillus, such as Aspergillus fumigatus, such as the one in SEQ ID NO:7 in WO 2014/130812 or from Trichoderma, such as Trichoderma reesei, or from Talaromyces, such as Talaromyces leycettanus, or from Thielavia, such as Thielavia terrestris, such as cellobiohydrolase II CEL6A from Thielavia terrestris. In a preferred embodiment the enzyme composition comprises a cellobiohydrolase II from Rasamsonia, such as Rasamsonia emersonii (see WO 201 1/098580).

In an embodiment the enzyme composition also comprises one or more of the below mentioned enzymes.

As used herein, a b-(1 ,3)(1 ,4)-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.73) is any polypeptide which is capable of catalysing the hydrolysis of 1 ,4^-D-glucosidic linkages in b-D-glucans containing 1 ,3- and 1 ,4- bonds. Such a polypeptide may act on lichenin and cereal b-D-glucans, but not on b-D-glucans containing only 1 ,3- or 1 ,4-bonds. This enzyme may also be referred to as licheninase, 1 ,3-1 ,4-b- D-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase, b-glucanase, endo^-1 ,3-1 ,4 glucanase, lichenase or mixed linkage b-glucanase. An alternative for this type of enzyme is EC 3.2.1.6, which is described as endo- 1 ,3(4)-beta-glucanase. This type of enzyme hydrolyses 1 ,3- or 1 ,4-linkages in beta-D-glucanse when the glucose residue whose reducing group is involved in the linkage to be hydrolysed is itself substituted at C-3. Alternative names include endo-1 ,3-beta-glucanase, laminarinase, 1 ,3- (1 ,3; 1 ,4)-beta-D-glucan 3 (4) glucanohydrolase. Substrates include laminarin, lichenin and cereal beta-D-glucans.

As used herein, an a-L-arabinofuranosidase (EC 3.2.1.55) is any polypeptide which is capable of acting on a-L-arabinofuranosides, a-L-arabinans containing (1 ,2) and/or (1 ,3)- and/or (1 ,5)-linkages, arabinoxylans and arabinogalactans. This enzyme may also be referred to as a-N- arabinofuranosidase, arabinofuranosidase or arabinosidase. Examples of arabinofuranosidases that may be comprised in the enzyme composition include, but are not limited to, arabinofuranosidases from Aspergillus niger, Humicola insolens DSM 1800 (see WO 2006/1 14094 and WO 2009/073383) and M. giganteus (see WO 2006/1 14094). As used herein, an a-D-glucuronidase (EC 3.2.1.139) is any polypeptide which is capable of catalysing a reaction of the following form: alpha-D-glucuronoside + H(2)0 = an alcohol + D- glucuronate. This enzyme may also be referred to as alpha-glucuronidase or alpha- glucosiduronase. These enzymes may also hydrolyse 4-O-methylated glucoronic acid, which can also be present as a substituent in xylans. An alternative is EC 3.2.1 .131 : xylan alpha-1 , 2- glucuronosidase, which catalyses the hydrolysis of alpha-1 , 2-(4-0-methyl)glucuronosyl links. Examples of alpha-glucuronidases that may be comprised in the enzyme composition include, but are not limited to, alpha-glucuronidases from Aspergillus clavatus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus terreus, Humicola insolens (see WO 2010/014706), Penicillium aurantiogriseum (see WO 2009/068565) and Trichoderma reesei.

As used herein, an acetyl xylan esterase (EC 3.1.1.72) is any polypeptide which is capable of catalysing the deacetylation of xylans and xylo-oligosaccharides. Such a polypeptide may catalyze the hydrolysis of acetyl groups from polymeric xylan, acetylated xylose, acetylated glucose, alpha-napthyl acetate or p-nitrophenyl acetate but, typically, not from triacetylglycerol. Such a polypeptide typically does not act on acetylated mannan or pectin. Examples of acetylxylan esterases that may be comprised in the enzyme composition include, but are not limited to, acetylxylan esterases from Aspergillus aculeatus (see WO 2010/108918), Chaetomium globosum, Chaetomium gracile, Humicola insolens DSM 1800 (see WO 2009/073709), Hypocrea jecorina (see WO 2005/001036), Myceliophtera thermophila (see WO 2010/014880), Neurospora crassa, Phaeosphaeria nodorum and Thielavia terrestris NRRL 8126 (see WO 2009/042846). In a preferred embodiment the enzyme composition comprises an acetyl xylan esterase from Rasamsonia, such as Rasamsonia emersonii (see WO 2010/000888)

As used herein, a feruloyl esterase (EC 3.1.1.73) is any polypeptide which is capable of catalysing a reaction of the form: feruloyl-saccharide + H2O = ferulate + saccharide. The saccharide may be, for example, an oligosaccharide or a polysaccharide. It may typically catalyse the hydrolysis of the 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamoyl (feruloyl) group from an esterified sugar, which is usually arabinose in 'natural' substrates p-nitrophenol acetate and methyl ferulate are typically poorer substrates. This enzyme may also be referred to as cinnamoyl ester hydrolase, ferulic acid esterase or hydroxycinnamoyl esterase. It may also be referred to as a hemicellulase accessory enzyme, since it may help xylanases and pectinases to break down plant cell wall hemicellulose and pectin. Examples of feruloyl esterases (ferulic acid esterases) that may be comprised in the enzyme composition include, but are not limited to, feruloyl esterases form Humicola insolens DSM 1800 (see WO 2009/076122), Neosartorya fischeri, Neurospora crassa, Penicillium aurantiogriseum (see WO 2009/127729), and Thielavia terrestris (see WO 2010/053838 and WO 2010/065448).

As used herein, a coumaroyl esterase (EC 3.1.1.73) is any polypeptide which is capable of catalysing a reaction of the form: coumaroyl-saccharide + H(2)0 = coumarate + saccharide. The saccharide may be, for example, an oligosaccharide or a polysaccharide. This enzyme may also be referred to as trans-4-coumaroyl esterase, trans-p-coumaroyl esterase, p-coumaroyl esterase or p-coumaric acid esterase. This enzyme also falls within EC 3.1.1.73 so may also be referred to as a feruloyl esterase.

As used herein, an a-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.22) is any polypeptide which is capable of catalysing the hydrolysis of terminal, non-reducing a-D-galactose residues in a-D-galactosides, including galactose oligosaccharides, galactomannans, galactans and arabinogalactans. Such a polypeptide may also be capable of hydrolyzing a-D-fucosides. This enzyme may also be referred to as melibiase.

As used herein, a b-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23) is any polypeptide which is capable of catalysing the hydrolysis of terminal non-reducing b-D-galactose residues in b-D-galactosides. Such a polypeptide may also be capable of hydrolyzing a-L-arabinosides. This enzyme may also be referred to as exo-(1->4)^-D-galactanase or lactase.

As used herein, a b-mannanase (EC 3.2.1.78) is any polypeptide which is capable of catalysing the random hydrolysis of 1 ,4^-D-mannosidic linkages in mannans, galactomannans and glucomannans. This enzyme may also be referred to as mannan endo-1 ,4^-mannosidase or endo- 1 ,4-mannanase.

As used herein, a b-mannosidase (EC 3.2.1.25) is any polypeptide which is capable of catalysing the hydrolysis of terminal, non-reducing b-D-mannose residues in b-D-mannosides. This enzyme may also be referred to as mannanase or mannase.

As used herein, an endo-polygalacturonase (EC 3.2.1.15) is any polypeptide which is capable of catalysing the random hydrolysis of 1 ,4-a-D-galactosiduronic linkages in pectate and other galacturonans. This enzyme may also be referred to as polygalacturonase pectin depolymerase, pectinase, endopolygalacturonase, pectolase, pectin hydrolase, pectin polygalacturonase, poly-a-1 ,4-galacturonide glycanohydrolase, endogalacturonase; endo-D- galacturonase or poly(1 ,4-a-D-galacturonide) glycanohydrolase.

As used herein, a pectin methyl esterase (EC 3.1 .1.1 1 ) is any enzyme which is capable of catalysing the reaction: pectin + n H2O = n methanol + pectate. The enzyme may also be known as pectinesterase, pectin demethoxylase, pectin methoxylase, pectin methylesterase, pectase, pectinoesterase or pectin pectylhydrolase.

As used herein, an endo-galactanase (EC 3.2.1 .89) is any enzyme capable of catalysing the endohydrolysis of 1 ,4^-D-galactosidic linkages in arabinogalactans. The enzyme may also be known as arabinogalactan endo-1 , 4^-galactosidase, endo-1 , 4^-galactanase, galactanase, arabinogalactanase or arabinogalactan 4^-D-galactanohydrolase.

As used herein, a pectin acetyl esterase is defined herein as any enzyme which has an acetyl esterase activity which catalyses the deacetylation of the acetyl groups at the hydroxyl groups of GalUA residues of pectin.

As used herein, an endo-pectin lyase (EC 4.2.2.10) is any enzyme capable of catalysing the eliminative cleavage of (1 ®4)-a-D-galacturonan methyl ester to give oligosaccharides with 4- deoxy-6-0-methyl-a-D-galact-4-enuronosyl groups at their non-reducing ends. The enzyme may also be known as pectin lyase, pectin frans-eliminase; endo-pectin lyase, polymethylgalacturonic transeliminase, pectin methyltranseliminase, pectolyase, PL, PNL or PMGL or (1 ®4)-6-0-methyl- a-D-galacturonan lyase.

As used herein, a pectate lyase (EC 4.2.2.2) is any enzyme capable of catalysing the eliminative cleavage of (1 ®4)-a-D-galacturonan to give oligosaccharides with 4-deoxy-a-D-galact- 4-enuronosyl groups at their non-reducing ends. The enzyme may also be known polygalacturonic transeliminase, pectic acid transeliminase, polygalacturonate lyase, endopectin methyltranseliminase, pectate transeliminase, endogalacturonate transeliminase, pectic acid lyase, pectic lyase, a-1 ,4-D-endopolygalacturonic acid lyase, PGA lyase, PPase-N, endo-a-1 ,4- polygalacturonic acid lyase, polygalacturonic acid lyase, pectin frans-eliminase, polygalacturonic acid frans-eliminase or (1 ®4)-oD-galacturonan lyase.

As used herein, an alpha rhamnosidase (EC 3.2.1.40) is any polypeptide which is capable of catalysing the hydrolysis of terminal non-reducing a-L-rhamnose residues in a-L-rhamnosides or alternatively in rhamnogalacturonan. This enzyme may also be known as a-L-rhamnosidase T, o L-rhamnosidase N or a-L-rhamnoside rhamnohydrolase.

As used herein, exo-galacturonase (EC 3.2.1.82) is any polypeptide capable of hydrolysis of pectic acid from the non-reducing end, releasing digalacturonate. The enzyme may also be known as exo-poly-ogalacturonosidase, exopolygalacturonosidase or exopolygalacturanosidase.

As used herein, exo-galacturonase (EC 3.2.1.67) is any polypeptide capable of catalysing: (1 ,4-a-D-galacturonide) _n + H2O = (1 ,4-a-D-galacturonide)„-i + D-galacturonate. The enzyme may also be known as galacturan 1 ,4-ogalacturonidase, exopolygalacturonase, poly(galacturonate) hydrolase, exo-D-galacturonase, exo-D-galacturonanase, exopoly-D-galacturonase or poly(1 ,4-o D-galacturonide) galacturonohydrolase.

As used herein, exopolygalacturonate lyase (EC 4.2.2.9) is any polypeptide capable of catalysing eliminative cleavage of 4-(4-deoxy-a-D-galact-4-enuronosyl)-D-galacturonate from the reducing end of pectate, i.e. de-esterified pectin. This enzyme may be known as pectate disaccharide-lyase, pectate exo-lyase, exopectic acid transeliminase, exopectate lyase, exopolygalacturonic acid-frans-eliminase, PATE, exo-PATE, exo-PGL or (1 ®4)-a-D-galacturonan reducing-end-disaccharide-lyase.

As used herein, rhamnogalacturonan hydrolase is any polypeptide which is capable of hydrolyzing the linkage between galactosyluronic acid and rhamnopyranosyl in an endo-fashion in strictly alternating rhamnogalacturonan structures, consisting of the disaccharide [(1 ,2-alpha-L- rhamnoyl-(1 ,4)-alpha-galactosyluronic acid].

As used herein, rhamnogalacturonan lyase is any polypeptide which is any polypeptide which is capable of cleaving a-L-Rhap-(1 ®4)-a-D-GalpA linkages in an endo-fashion in rhamnogalacturonan by beta-elimination.

As used herein, rhamnogalacturonan acetyl esterase is any polypeptide which catalyzes the deacetylation of the backbone of alternating rhamnose and galacturonic acid residues in rhamnogalacturonan.

As used herein, rhamnogalacturonan galacturonohydrolase is any polypeptide which is capable of hydrolyzing galacturonic acid from the non-reducing end of strictly alternating rhamnogalacturonan structures in an exo-fashion.

As used herein, xylogalacturonase is any polypeptide which acts on xylogalacturonan by cleaving the b-xylose substituted galacturonic acid backbone in an enc/o-manner. This enzyme may also be known as xylogalacturonan hydrolase.

As used herein, an a-L-arabinofuranosidase (EC 3.2.1.55) is any polypeptide which is capable of acting on a-L-arabinofuranosides, a-L-arabinans containing (1 ,2) and/or (1 ,3)- and/or (1 ,5)-linkages, arabinoxylans and arabinogalactans. This enzyme may also be referred to as a-N- arabinofuranosidase, arabinofuranosidase or arabinosidase.

As used herein, endo-arabinanase (EC 3.2.1.99) is any polypeptide which is capable of catalysing endohydrolysis of 1 ,5-oarabinofuranosidic linkages in 1 ,5-arabinans. The enzyme may also be known as endo-arabinase, arabinan endo-1 ,5-ol_-arabinosidase, endo-1 ,5-ol_- arabinanase, endo-a-1 ,5-arabanase; endo-arabanase or 1 ,5-a-L-arabinan 1 ,5-a-L- arabinanohydrolase.

"Protease" includes enzymes that hydrolyze peptide bonds (peptidases), as well as enzymes that hydrolyze bonds between peptides and other moieties, such as sugars (glycopeptidases). Many proteases are characterized under EC 3.4 and are suitable for use in the processes as described herein. Some specific types of proteases include, cysteine proteases including pepsin, papain and serine proteases including chymotrypsins, carboxypeptidases and metalloendopeptidases.

"Lipase" includes enzymes that hydrolyze lipids, fatty acids, and acylglycerides, including phospoglycerides, lipoproteins, diacylglycerols, and the like. In plants, lipids are used as structural components to limit water loss and pathogen infection. These lipids include waxes derived from fatty acids, as well as cutin and suberin.

"Ligninase" includes enzymes that can hydrolyze or break down the structure of lignin polymers. Enzymes that can break down lignin include lignin peroxidases, manganese peroxidases, laccases and feruloyl esterases, and other enzymes described in the art known to depolymerize or otherwise break lignin polymers. Also included are enzymes capable of hydrolyzing bonds formed between hemicellulosic sugars (notably arabinose) and lignin. Ligninases include but are not limited to the following group of enzymes: lignin peroxidases (EC 1.1 1.1.14), manganese peroxidases (EC 1.1 1 .1.13), laccases (EC 1.10.3.2) and feruloyl esterases (EC 3.1.1.73).

“Hexosyltransferase” (2.4.1-) includes enzymes which are capable of catalysing a transferase reaction, but which can also catalyze a hydrolysis reaction, for example of cellulose and/or cellulose degradation products. An example of a hexosyltransferase which may be used is a b-glucanosyltransferase. Such an enzyme may be able to catalyze degradation of (1 ,3)(1 ,4)glucan and/or cellulose and/or a cellulose degradation product.

"Glucuronidase" includes enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of a glucuronoside, for example b-glucuronoside to yield an alcohol. Many glucuronidases have been characterized and may be suitable for use, for example b-glucuronidase (EC 3.2.1 .31 ), hyalurono-glucuronidase (EC 3.2.1.36), glucuronosyl-disulfoglucosamine glucuronidase (3.2.1.56), glycyrrhizinate b- glucuronidase (3.2.1.128) or a-D-glucuronidase (EC 3.2.1.139).

Expansins are implicated in loosening of the cell wall structure during plant cell growth. Expansins have been proposed to disrupt hydrogen bonding between cellulose and other cell wall polysaccharides without having hydrolytic activity. In this way, they are thought to allow the sliding of cellulose fibers and enlargement of the cell wall. Swollenin, an expansin-like protein contains an N-terminal Carbohydrate Binding Module Family 1 domain (CBD) and a C-terminal expansin-like domain. As described herein, an expansin-like protein or swollenin-like protein may comprise one or both of such domains and/or may disrupt the structure of cell walls (such as disrupting cellulose structure), optionally without producing detectable amounts of reducing sugars.

A cellulose induced protein, for example the polypeptide product of the cip1 or cip2 gene or similar genes (see Foreman et ai, J. Biol. Chem. 278(34), 31988-31997, 2003), a cellulose/cellulosome integrating protein, for example the polypeptide product of the cipA or cipC gene, or a scaffoldin or a scaffoldin-like protein. Scaffoldins and cellulose integrating proteins are multi-functional integrating subunits which may organize cellulolytic subunits into a multi-enzyme complex. This is accomplished by the interaction of two complementary classes of domain, i.e. a cohesion domain on scaffoldin and a dockerin domain on each enzymatic unit. The scaffoldin subunit also bears a cellulose-binding module (CBM) that mediates attachment of the cellulosome to its substrate. A scaffoldin or cellulose integrating protein may comprise one or both of such domains.

A catalase; the term "catalase" means a hydrogen-peroxide: hydrogen-peroxide oxidoreductase (EC 1.1 1.1.6 or EC 1.1 1.1.21 ) that catalyzes the conversion of two hydrogen peroxides to oxygen and two waters. Catalase activity can be determined by monitoring the degradation of hydrogen peroxide at 240 nm based on the following reaction: 2H ₂ q ₂ ® 2H2O + OS. The reaction is conducted in 50 mM phosphate pH 7.0 at 25°C with 10.3 mM substrate (H2O2) and approximately 100 units of enzyme per ml. Absorbance is monitored spectrophotometrically within 16-24 seconds, which should correspond to an absorbance reduction from 0.45 to 0.4. One catalase activity unit can be expressed as one micromole of H2O2 degraded per minute at pH 7.0 and 25°C.

The term“amylase” as used herein means enzymes that hydrolyze alpha-1 , 4-glucosidic linkages in starch, both in amylose and amylopectin, such as alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1 ), beta- amylase (EC 3.2.1.2), glucan 1 ,4-alpha-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.3), glucan 1 ,4-alpha- maltotetraohydrolase (EC 3.2.1.60), glucan 1 ,4-alpha-maltohexaosidase (EC 3.2.1.98), glucan 1 ,4- alpha-maltotriohydrolase (EC 3.2.1.1 16) and glucan 1 ,4-alpha-maltohydrolase (EC 3.2.1.133), and enzymes that hydrolyze alpha-1 , 6-glucosidic linkages, being the branch-points in amylopectin, such as pullulanase (EC 3.2.1.41 ) and limit dextinase (EC 3.2.1.142).

A composition for use in the processes as described herein may be composed of enzymes from (1 ) commercial suppliers; (2) cloned genes expressing enzymes; (3) broth (such as that resulting from growth of a microbial strain in media, wherein the strains secrete proteins and enzymes into the media; (4) cell lysates of strains grown as in (3); and/or (5) plant material expressing enzymes. Different enzymes in a composition of the invention may be obtained from different sources.

The enzymes can be produced either exogenously in microorganisms, yeasts, fungi, bacteria or plants, then isolated and added, for example, to lignocellulosic material. Alternatively, the enzyme may be produced in a fermentation that uses (pretreated) lignocellulosic material (such as corn stover or wheat straw) to provide nutrition to an organism that produces an enzyme(s). In this manner, plants that produce the enzymes may themselves serve as a lignocellulosic material and be added into lignocellulosic material.

In the uses and processes described herein, the components of the compositions described above may be provided concomitantly ( i.e . as a single composition per se) or separately or sequentially.

In an embodiment the enzyme composition as used herein is a whole fermentation broth of a fungus, preferably a whole fermentation broth of a filamentous fungus, more preferably a whole fermentation broth of Rasamsonia. The whole fermentation broth can be prepared from fermentation of non-recombinant and/or recombinant filamentous fungi. In an embodiment the filamentous fungus is a recombinant filamentous fungus comprising one or more genes which can be homologous or heterologous to the filamentous fungus. In an embodiment, the filamentous fungus is a recombinant filamentous fungus comprising one or more genes which can be homologous or heterologous to the filamentous fungus wherein the one or more genes encode enzymes that can degrade a cellulosic substrate. The whole fermentation broth may comprise any of the polypeptides described above or any combination thereof.

Preferably, the enzyme composition is a whole fermentation broth wherein the cells are killed. The whole fermentation broth may contain organic acid(s) (used for killing the cells), killed cells and/or cell debris, and culture medium.

Generally, filamentous fungi are cultivated in a cell culture medium suitable for production of enzymes capable of hydrolyzing a cellulosic substrate. The cultivation takes place in a suitable nutrient medium comprising carbon and nitrogen sources and inorganic salts, using procedures known in the art. Suitable culture media, temperature ranges and other conditions suitable for growth and cellulase and/or hemicellulase and/or pectinase production are known in the art. The whole fermentation broth can be prepared by growing the filamentous fungi to stationary phase and maintaining the filamentous fungi under limiting carbon conditions for a period of time sufficient to express the one or more cellulases and/or hemicellulases and/or pectinases. Once enzymes, such as cellulases and/or hemicellulases and/or pectinases, are secreted by the filamentous fungi into the fermentation medium, the whole fermentation broth can be used. The whole fermentation broth of the present invention may comprise filamentous fungi. In some embodiments, the whole fermentation broth comprises the unfractionated contents of the fermentation materials derived at the end of the fermentation. Typically, the whole fermentation broth comprises the spent culture medium and cell debris present after the filamentous fungi is grown to saturation, incubated under carbon-limiting conditions to allow protein synthesis (particularly, expression of cellulases and/or hemicellulases and/or pectinases). In some embodiments, the whole fermentation broth comprises the spent cell culture medium, extracellular enzymes and filamentous fungi. In some embodiments, the filamentous fungi present in whole fermentation broth can be lysed, permeabilized, or killed using methods known in the art to produce a cell-killed whole fermentation broth. In an embodiment, the whole fermentation broth is a cell-killed whole fermentation broth, wherein the whole fermentation broth containing the filamentous fungi cells are lysed or killed. In some embodiments, the cells are killed by lysing the filamentous fungi by chemical and/or pH treatment to generate the cell-killed whole broth of a fermentation of the filamentous fungi. In some embodiments, the cells are killed by lysing the filamentous fungi by chemical and/or pH treatment and adjusting the pH of the cell-killed fermentation mix to a suitable pH. In an embodiment, the whole fermentation broth comprises a first organic acid component comprising at least one 1-5 carbon organic acid and/or a salt thereof and a second organic acid component comprising at least 6 or more carbon organic acid and/or a salt thereof. In an embodiment, the first organic acid component is acetic acid, formic acid, propionic acid, a salt thereof, or any combination thereof and the second organic acid component is benzoic acid, cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, 4-methylvaleric acid, phenylacetic acid, a salt thereof, or any combination thereof.

The term "whole fermentation broth" as used herein refers to a preparation produced by cellular fermentation that undergoes no or minimal recovery and/or purification. For example, whole fermentation broths are produced when microbial cultures are grown to saturation, incubated under carbon-limiting conditions to allow protein synthesis (e.g. , expression of enzymes by host cells) and secretion into cell culture medium. Typically, the whole fermentation broth is unfractionated and comprises spent cell culture medium, extracellular enzymes, and microbial, preferably non-viable, cells.

If needed, the whole fermentation broth can be fractionated and the one or more of the fractionated contents can be used. For instance, the killed cells and/or cell debris can be removed from a whole fermentation broth to provide a composition that is free of these components.

The whole fermentation broth may further comprise a preservative and/or anti-microbial agent. Such preservatives and/or agents are known in the art.

The whole fermentation broth as described herein is typically a liquid, but may contain insoluble components, such as killed cells, cell debris, culture media components, and/or insoluble enzyme(s). In some embodiments, insoluble components may be removed to provide a clarified whole fermentation broth.

In an embodiment, the whole fermentation broth may be supplemented with one or more enzyme activities that are not expressed endogenously or expressed at relatively low level by the filamentous fungi to improve the degradation of the cellulosic substrate, for example, to fermentable sugars such as glucose or xylose. The supplemental enzyme(s) can be added as a supplement to the whole fermentation broth and the enzymes may be a component of a separate whole fermentation broth, or may be purified, or minimally recovered and/or purified.

In an embodiment, the whole fermentation broth comprises a whole fermentation broth of a fermentation of a recombinant filamentous fungus overexpressing one or more enzymes to improve the degradation of the cellulosic substrate. Alternatively, the whole fermentation broth can comprise a mixture of a whole fermentation broth of a fermentation of a non-recombinant filamentous fungus and a recombinant filamentous fungus overexpressing one or more enzymes to improve the degradation of the cellulosic substrate. In an embodiment, the whole fermentation broth comprises a whole fermentation broth of a fermentation of a filamentous fungus overexpressing beta-glucosidase or endoglucanase. Alternatively, the whole fermentation broth for use in the present methods and reactive compositions can comprise a mixture of a whole fermentation broth of a fermentation of a non-recombinant filamentous fungus and a whole fermentation broth of a fermentation of a recombinant filamentous fungus overexpressing a beta- glucosidase or endoglucanase.

Lignocellulosic material as used herein may also include any starch and/or sucrose and/or cellulose containing material. Preferably, lignocellulosic material as used herein includes hemicellulosic material. Lignocellulosic material suitable for use in the processes as described herein includes biomass, e.g. virgin biomass and/or non-virgin biomass such as agricultural biomass, commercial organics, construction and demolition debris, municipal solid waste, waste paper and yard waste. Common forms of biomass include trees, shrubs and grasses, wheat, rye, oat, wheat straw, sugar cane, cane straw, sugar cane bagasse, switch grass, miscanthus, energy cane, cassava, molasse, barley, corn, corn stover, corn fiber, corn husks, corn cobs, canola stems, soybean stems, sweet sorghum, corn kernel including fiber from kernels, distillers dried grains (DDGS), products and by-products from milling of grains such as corn, wheat and barley (including wet milling and dry milling) often called“bran or fibre” as well as municipal solid waste, waste paper and yard waste. The biomass can also be, but is not limited to, herbaceous material, agricultural residues, forestry residues, municipal solid wastes, waste paper, and pulp and paper mill residues. "Agricultural biomass" includes branches, bushes, canes, corn and corn husks, energy crops, forests, fruits, flowers, grains, grasses, herbaceous crops, leaves, bark, needles, logs, roots, saplings, short rotation woody crops, shrubs, switch grasses, trees, vegetables, fruit peels, vines, sugar beet, sugar beet pulp, wheat midlings, oat hulls, and hard and soft woods (not including woods with deleterious materials). In addition, agricultural biomass includes organic waste materials generated from agricultural processes including farming and forestry activities, specifically including forestry wood waste. Agricultural biomass may be any of the afore-mentioned singularly or in any combination or mixture thereof.

In an embodiment the lignocellulosic material is pretreated before step (b). Pretreatment methods are known in the art and include, but are not limited to, heat, mechanical, chemical modification, biological modification and any combination thereof. Pretreatment is typically performed in order to enhance the accessibility of the lignocellulosic material to enzymatic hydrolysis and/or hydrolyse the hemicellulose and/or solubilize the hemicellulose and/or cellulose and/or lignin, in the lignocellulosic material. In an embodiment, the pretreatment comprises treating the lignocellulosic material with steam explosion, hot water treatment or treatment with dilute acid or dilute base. Examples of pretreatment methods include, but are not limited to, steam treatment (e.g. treatment at 100-260°C, at a pressure of 7-45 bar, at neutral pH, for 1-10 minutes), dilute acid treatment (e.g. treatment with 0.1 - 5% H2SO4 and/or SO2 and/or HNO3 and/or HCI, in presence or absence of steam, at 120-200°C, at a pressure of 2-15 bar, at acidic pH, for 2-30 minutes), organosolv treatment (e.g. treatment with 1 - 1.5% H2SO4 in presence of organic solvent and steam, at 160-200°C, at a pressure of 7-30 bar, at acidic pH, for 30-60 minutes), lime treatment (e.g. treatment with 0.1 - 2% NaOH/Ca(OH)2 in the presence of water/steam at 60-160°C, at a pressure of 1-10 bar, at alkaline pH, for 60-4800 minutes), ARP treatment (e.g. treatment with 5 - 15% NH3, at 150-180°C, at a pressure of 9-17 bar, at alkaline pH, for 10-90 minutes), AFEX treatment (e.g. treatment with > 15% NH3, at 60-140°C, at a pressure of 8-20 bar, at alkaline pH, for 5-30 minutes). In an embodiment the pretreatment is done in the absence of oxygen.

The lignocellulosic material may be washed. In an embodiment the lignocellulosic material may be washed after the pretreatment. The washing step may be used to remove water soluble compounds that may act as inhibitors for the fermentation and/or hydrolysis step. The washing step may be conducted in manner known to the skilled person. Next to washing, other detoxification methods do exist. The lignocellulosic material may also be detoxified by any (or any combination) of these methods which include, but are not limited to, solid/liquid separation, vacuum evaporation, extraction, adsorption, neutralization, overliming, addition of reducing agents, addition of detoxifying enzymes such as peroxidases, addition of microorganisms capable of detoxification of hydrolysates.

The enzyme composition used in the processes as described herein can extremely effectively hydrolyze lignocellulosic material, for example corn stover, wheat straw, cane straw, and/or sugar cane bagasse, which can then be further converted into a product, such as ethanol, biogas, butanol, a plastic, an organic acid, a solvent, an animal feed supplement, a pharmaceutical, a vitamin, an amino acid, an enzyme or a chemical feedstock. Additionally, intermediate products from a process following the hydrolysis, for example lactic acid as intermediate in biogas production, can be used as building block for other materials.

In an embodiment the amount of enzyme composition in step (b) is from 1 to 40 mg/g glucan in the pretreated lignocellulosic material. In an embodiment the amount of enzyme composition in step (b) is from 5 to 25 mg/g glucan in the pretreated lignocellulosic material. Protein is measured as described herein.

In an embodiment the dry matter content in step (b) is from 10% - 40% (w/w) In an embodiment the pretreated lignocellulosic material that is hydrolysed in step (b) has a dry matter content of 10 - 40% (w/w). In an embodiment the dry matter content of the pretreated lignocellulosic material in step (b) is from 10% - 40% (w/w), from 1 1 % - 35% (w/w), from 12% - 30% (w/w), from 13% - 29% (w/w), from 14% - 28% (w/w), and preferably from 15% - 25% (w/w).

In an embodiment step (b) and/or step (d) is conducted at a temperature of 40-90°C, preferably 50-70°C, more preferably 55-65°C. In an embodiment the temperature in step (b) is the same as in step (d). In an embodiment the temperature in step (b) differs from the temperature in step (d).

In an embodiment the pH of step (b) and/or step (d) is from 3.5 to 5.5. In an embodiment the pH of step (b) and/or step (d) is from 4.0 to 5.0. In an embodiment the pH in step (b) is the same as in step (d). In an embodiment the pH in step (b) differs from the pH in step (d). The term “pH is” as used herein means that the“pH is controlled”.

In an embodiment step (b) takes from 1 to 200 hours. In an embodiment step (d) takes from 1 to 100 hours. In an embodiment step (d) takes from 10 to 90 hours.

In an embodiment the fermentation is done in a reactor. In an embodiment the fermentation may also be done in two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten or even more reactors. So, the term“reactor” is not limited to a single reactor but may mean multiple reactors.

In an embodiment the fermentation is done in a reactor having a volume of 1 - 5000 m ³ . In case multiple reactors are used in the fermentation of the processes as described herein, they may have the same volume, but also may have a different volume.

In an embodiment the reactor in which the fermentation is done has a ratio height to diameter of 2: 1 to 8: 1.

In an embodiment the fermentation is done by an alcohol producing microorganism to produce alcohol. The fermentation by an alcohol producing microorganism to produce alcohol can be done in the same reactor wherein the hydrolysis is performed. Preferably, the fermentation by an alcohol producing microorganism to produce alcohol is performed in a separate reactor.

In an embodiment the fermentation is carried out by a yeast. In an embodiment the alcohol producing microorganism is a yeast. In an embodiment the alcohol producing microorganism is able to ferment at least a C5 sugar and at least a C6 sugar. In an embodiment the fermentation is done with a yeast that is able to convert at least one C5 sugar. In an embodiment the fermentation is done with a yeast that is able to convert at least one C5 sugar. In an embodiment the sugar product as described herein comprises glucose, galactose and arabinose. In an embodiment the sugar product as described herein comprises acetic acid, preferably 0.3% (w/w) or more. In an embodiment the sugar product as described herein comprises glycerol. In an embodiment the sugar product as described herein comprises acetic acid, glycerol and a C6 sugar and/or a C5 sugar. In an embodiment the microorganism used for the fermentation ferments acetic acid, glycerol and a C6 sugar and/or a C5 sugar to a fermentation product. In an embodiment the yeast used for the fermentation ferments acetic acid, glycerol and a C6 sugar and/or a C5 sugar to a fermentation product. In an embodiment the yeast used for the fermentation ferments acetic acid, glycerol and a C6 sugar and/or a C5 sugar to ethanol. In an embodiment the sugar product as described herein comprises Mn ²⁺ .

In a further aspect, the application includes a process as described herein in which a microorganism is used for the fermentation of a carbon source comprising sugar(s), e.g. glucose, L-arabinose, galactose and/or xylose. The carbon source may include any carbohydrate oligo- or polymer comprising L-arabinose, galactose, xylose or glucose units, such as e.g. lignocellulose, xylans, cellulose, starch, arabinan and the like. For release of xylose or glucose units from such carbohydrates, appropriate carbohydrases (such as xylanases, glucanases, amylases and the like) may be added to the fermentation medium or may be produced by the modified host cell. In the latter case, the modified host cell may be genetically engineered to produce and excrete such carbohydrases. An additional advantage of using oligo- or polymeric sources of glucose is that it enables to maintain a low(er) concentration of free glucose during the fermentation, e.g. by using rate-limiting amounts of the carbohydrases. This, in turn, will prevent repression of systems required for metabolism and transport of non-glucose sugars such as xylose. In an embodiment the modified host cell ferments both the L-arabinose (optionally xylose) and glucose, preferably simultaneously in which case preferably a modified host cell is used which is insensitive to glucose repression to prevent diauxic growth. In addition to a source of L-arabinose, optionally xylose (and glucose) as carbon source, the fermentation medium will further comprise the appropriate ingredient required for growth of the modified host cell.

The fermentation process may be an aerobic or an anaerobic fermentation process. An anaerobic fermentation process is herein defined as a fermentation process run in the absence of oxygen or in which substantially no oxygen is consumed, preferably less than 5, 2.5 or 1 mmol/L/h, more preferably 0 mmol/L/h is consumed ( i.e . oxygen consumption is not detectable), and wherein organic molecules serve as both electron donor and electron acceptors. In the absence of oxygen, NADH produced in glycolysis and biomass formation, cannot be oxidised by oxidative phosphorylation. To solve this problem, many microorganisms use pyruvate or one of its derivatives as an electron and hydrogen acceptor thereby regenerating NAD ⁺ . Thus, in a preferred anaerobic fermentation process pyruvate is used as an electron (and hydrogen acceptor) and is reduced to fermentation products such as ethanol, lactic acid, 3-hydroxy-propionic acid, acrylic acid, acetic acid, succinic acid, citric acid, malic acid, fumaric acid, an amino acid, 1 ,3-propane-diol, ethylene, glycerol, butanol, a b-lactam antibiotic and a cephalosporin. In a preferred embodiment, the fermentation process is anaerobic. An anaerobic process is advantageous, since it is cheaper than aerobic processes: less special equipment is needed. Furthermore, anaerobic processes are expected to give a higher product yield than aerobic processes. Under aerobic conditions, usually the biomass yield is higher than under anaerobic conditions. As a consequence, usually under aerobic conditions, the expected product yield is lower than under anaerobic conditions.

In another embodiment the fermentation process is under oxygen-limited conditions. More preferably, the fermentation process is aerobic and under oxygen-limited conditions. An oxygen- limited fermentation process is a process in which the oxygen consumption is limited by the oxygen transfer from the gas to the liquid. The degree of oxygen limitation is determined by the amount and composition of the ingoing gas flow as well as the actual mixing/mass transfer properties of the fermentation equipment used. Preferably, in a process under oxygen-limited conditions, the rate of oxygen consumption is at least 5.5, more preferably at least 6 and even more preferably at least 7 mmol/L/h. In an embodiment the fermentation is anaerobic.

The fermentation process is preferably run at a temperature that is optimal for the microorganism used. Thus, for most yeasts or fungal cells, the fermentation process is performed at a temperature which is less than 42°C, preferably 38°C or lower. For yeast or filamentous fungal host cells, the fermentation process is preferably performed at a temperature which is lower than 35, 33, 30 or 28°C and at a temperature which is higher than 20, 22, or 25°C. In an embodiment the fermentation is performed between 25°C and 35°C.

In an embodiment the fermentations are conducted with a fermenting microorganism. In an embodiment of the invention, the alcohol (e.g. ethanol) fermentations of C5 sugars are conducted with a C5 fermenting microorganism. In an embodiment of the invention, the alcohol (e.g. ethanol) fermentations of C6 sugars are conducted with a C5 fermenting microorganism or a commercial C6 fermenting microorganism. Commercially available yeast suitable for ethanol production include, but are not limited to, BIOFERM™ AFT and XR (NABC— North American Bioproducts Corporation, GA, USA), ETHANOL RED™ yeast (Fermentis/Lesaffre, USA), FALI™ (Fleischmann's Yeast, USA), FERMIOL™ (DSM Specialties), GERT STRAND™ (Gert Strand AB, Sweden), and SUPERSTART™ and THERMOSACC™ fresh yeast (Ethanol Technology, Wl, USA).

In an embodiment the alcohol producing microorganism is a microorganism that is able to ferment at least one C5 sugar. Preferably, it also is able to ferment at least one C6 sugar. In an embodiment the application describes a process for the preparation of ethanol from lignocellulosic material, comprising the steps of (a) performing a process for the preparation of a sugar product from lignocellulosic material as described above, (b) fermentation of the sugar product to produce ethanol; and (c) optionally, recovery of the ethanol. The fermentation can be done with a yeast that is able to ferment at least one C5 sugar.

The microorganism used in the fermentation may be a prokaryotic or eukaryotic organism. The microorganism used may be a genetically engineered microorganism. Examples of suitable microorganisms are yeasts, for instance Saccharomyces, e.g. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces pastorianus or Saccharomyces uvarum, Hansenula, Issatchenkia, e.g. Issatchenkia orientalis, Pichia, e.g. Pichia stipites or Pichia pastoris, Kluyveromyces, e.g. Kluyveromyces fagilis, Candida, e.g. Candida pseudotropicalis or Candida acidothermophilum, Pachysoien, e.g. Pachysolen tannophilus or bacteria, for instance Lactobacillus, e.g. Lactobacillus lactis, Geobacillus, Zymomonas, e.g. Zymomonas mobilis, Clostridium, e.g. Clostridium phytofermentans, Escherichia, e.g. E. coli, Klebsiella, e.g. Klebsiella oxytoca. In an embodiment the microorganism that is able to ferment at least one C5 sugar is a yeast. In an embodiment, the yeast belongs to the genus Saccharomyces, preferably of the species Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The yeast, e.g. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, used in the processes as described herein is capable of converting hexose (C6) sugars and pentose (C5) sugars. The yeast, e.g. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, used in the processes as described herein can anaerobically ferment at least one C6 sugar and at least one C5 sugar. In an embodiment the yeast as described herein is capable of using L-arabinose and xylose in addition to glucose anaerobically. In an embodiment, the yeast is capable of converting L-arabinose into L-ribulose and/or xylulose 5-phosphate and/or into a desired fermentation product, for example into ethanol. Organisms, for example Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, able to produce ethanol from L-arabinose may be produced by modifying a host yeast introducing the araA (L-arabinose isomerase), araB (L-ribuloglyoxalate) and araD (L-ribulose-5-P4- epimerase) genes from a suitable source. Such genes may be introduced into a host cell in order that it is capable of using arabinose. Such an approach is given is described in W02003/095627. araA, araB and araD genes from Lactobacillus plantarum may be used and are disclosed in W02008/041840. The araA gene from Bacillus subtilis and the araB and araD genes from Escherichia coli may be used and are disclosed in EP1499708. In another embodiment, araA, araB and araD genes may derived from of at least one of the genus Clavibacter, Arthrobacter and/or Gramella, in particular one of Clavibacter michiganensis, Arthrobacter aurescens, and/or Gramella forsetii, as disclosed in WO 200901 1591. In an embodiment, the yeast may also comprise one or more copies of xylose isomerase gene and/or one or more copies of xylose reductase and/or xylitol dehydrogenase.

The yeast may comprise one or more genetic modifications to allow the yeast to ferment xylose. Examples of genetic modifications are introduction of one or more xylA- gene, XYL1 gene and XYL2 gene and/or XKSI-gene; deletion of the aldose reductase ( GRE3 ) gene; overexpression of PPP-genes TAL1, TKL1, RPE1 and RKI1 to allow the increase of the flux through the pentose phosphate pathway in the cell. Examples of genetically engineered yeast are described in EP1468093 and/or W02006/009434.

An example of a suitable commercial yeast is RN1016 that is a xylose and glucose fermenting Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain from DSM, the Netherlands.

In an embodiment, the fermentation process for the production of ethanol is anaerobic. Anaerobic has already been defined earlier herein. In another embodiment, the fermentation process for the production of ethanol is aerobic. In another embodiment, the fermentation process for the production of ethanol is under oxygen-limited conditions, e.g. aerobic and under oxygen- limited conditions. Oxygen-limited conditions have already been defined earlier herein.

Alternatively, to the fermentation processes described above, at least two distinct cells may be used, this means this process is a co-fermentation process. All embodiments of the fermentation processes as described above are also embodiments of this co-fermentation process: identity of the fermentation product, identity of source of L-arabinose and source of xylose, conditions of fermentation (aerobic or anaerobic conditions, oxygen-limited conditions, temperature at which the process is being carried out, productivity of ethanol, yield of ethanol).

Fermentation products that may be produced by the processes of the invention can be any substance derived from fermentation. They include, but are not limited to, alcohol (such as arabinitol, butanol, ethanol, glycerol, methanol, 1 ,3-propanediol, sorbitol, and xylitol); organic acid (such as acetic acid, acetonic acid, adipic acid, ascorbic acid, acrylic acid, citric acid, 2,5-diketo-D- gluconic acid, formic acid, fumaric acid, glucaric acid, gluconic acid, glucuronic acid, glutaric acid, 3- hydroxypropionic acid, itaconic acid, lactic acid, maleic acid, malic acid, malonic acid, oxalic acid, oxaloacetic acid, propionic acid, succinic acid, and xylonic acid); ketones (such as acetone); amino acids (such as aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, lysine, serine, tryptophan, and threonine); alkanes (such as pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, nonane, decane, undecane, and dodecane), cycloalkanes (such as cyclopentane, cyclohexane, cycloheptane, and cyclooctane), alkenes (such as pentene, hexene, heptene, and octene); and gases (such as methane, hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and carbon monoxide (CO)). The fermentation product can also be a protein, a vitamin, a pharmaceutical, an animal feed supplement, a specialty chemical, a chemical feedstock, a plastic, a solvent, ethylene, an enzyme, such as a protease, a cellulase, an amylase, a glucanase, a lactase, a lipase, a lyase, an oxidoreductase, a transferase or a xylanase. In a preferred embodiment an alcohol is prepared in the fermentation processes as described herein. In a preferred embodiment ethanol is prepared in the fermentation processes as described herein. In a preferred embodiment the fermentation product is ethanol.

The processes as described herein may comprise recovery of all kinds of products made during the processes including fermentation products such as ethanol. A fermentation product may be separated from the fermentation broth in manner know to the skilled person. Examples of techniques for recovery include, but are not limited to, chromatography, electrophoretic procedures, differential solubility, distillation, or extraction. For each fermentation product the skilled person will thus be able to select a proper separation technique. For instance, ethanol may be separated from a yeast fermentation broth by distillation, for instance steam distillation/vacuum distillation in conventional way. EXAMPLES

Example 1

Enzymatic hydrolysis with and withour laccase

Rasamsonia emersonii cellulase cocktail (i.e. a whole fermentation broth) was produced according to the methods as described in WO 201 1/000949. Moreover, Rasamsonia emersonii laccase having an amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:4 and Rasamsonia emersonii beta-glucosidase as described in WO2012/000890 were used in the experiments.

Laccase was concentrated using a 10 kDa spin filter to a volume of approximately 5 ml and subsequently the protein concentration was determined using a TCA-biuret method. In short, bovine serum albumin (BSA) dilutions (0, 1 , 2, 5, 8 and 10 mg/ml) were made to generate a calibration curve. Additionally, dilutions of laccase samples were made with water. Of each diluted sample (of the BSA and the laccase), 270 pi was transferred into a 10-ml tube containing 830 pi of a 12% (w/v) trichloro acetic acid solution in acetone and mixed thoroughly. Subsequently, the tubes were incubated on ice water for one hour and centrifuged for 30 minutes at 4°C and 6000 rpm. The supernatant was discarded and pellets were dried by inverting the tubes on a tissue and letting them stand for 30 minutes at room temperature. Next, 3 ml BioQuant Biuret reagent mix was added to the pellet in the tubes and the pellet was solubilized upon mixing followed by addition of 1 ml water. The tubes were mixed thoroughly and incubated at room temperature for 30 minutes. The absorption of the mixtures was measured at 546 nm and a water sample was used as a blank measurement. Dilutions of the laccase that gave an absorption value at 546 nm within the range of the calibration line were used to calculate the total protein concentration of the laccase samples via the BSA calibration line.

The protein concentration of the cellulase cocktail was determined using a biuret method. Cocktail samples were diluted on weight basis with water and centrifugated for 5 minutes at >14000xg. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) dilutions (0.5, 1 , 2, 5, 10 and 15 mg/ml) were made to generate a calibration curve. Of each diluted protein sample (of the BSA and the cocktail), 200 mI of the supernatant was transferred into a 1.5 ml reaction tube. 800 mI BioQuant Biuret reagent was added and mixed thoroughly. From the same diluted protein sample, 500 mI was added to reaction tube containing a 10KD filter. 200 mI of the effluent was transferred into a 1.5 ml reaction tube, 800 mI BioQuant Biuret reagent was added and mixed thoroughly. Next, all the mixtures (diluted protein sample before and after 10KD filtration mixed with BioQuant) were incubated at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. The absorption of the mixtures was measured at 546 nm with a water sample used as a blank measurement. Dilutions of the cocktail that gave an absorption value at 546 nm within the range of the calibration line were used to calculate the total protein concentration of the cellulase cocktail samples via the BSA calibration line.

Enzymatic beta-glucosidase activity (WBDG) was determined at 37°C and pH 4.4 using para-nitrophenyl^-D-glucopyranoside as substrate. Enzymatic hydrolysis of pNP-beta-D- glucopyranoside resulted in release of para-nitrophenol (pNP) and D-glucose. Quantitatively released para-nitrophenol, determined under alkaline conditions, was a measure for enzymatic activity. After 10 minutes of incubation, the reaction was stopped by adding 1 M sodium carbonate and the absorbance was determined at a wavelength of 405 nm. Beta-glucosidase activity was calculated making use of the molar extinction coefficient of para-nitrophenol. A para-nitro-phenol calibration line was prepared by diluting a 10 mM pNP stock solution in acetate buffer 100 mM pH 4.40 0.1 % BSA to pNP concentrations 0.25, 0.40, 0.67 and 1.25 mM. The substrate was a solution of 5.0 mM pNP-BDG in an acetate buffer (100 mM, pH 4.4). To 3 ml substrate, 200 pi of calibration solution and 3 ml 1 M sodium carbonate was added. The absorption of the mixture was measured at 405 nm with an acetate buffer (100 mM) used as a blank measurement. The pNP content was calculated using standard calculation protocols known in the art, by plotting the OD405 versus the concentration of samples with known concentration, followed by the calculation of the concentration of the unknown samples using the equation generated from the calibration line. Samples were diluted in weight corresponding to an activity between 1.7 and 3.3 units. To 3 ml substrate, preheated to 37°C, 200 pi of diluted sample solution was added. This was recorded as t=0. After 10.0 minutes, the reaction was stopped by adding 3 ml 1 M sodium carbonate. The beta- glucosidase activity is expressed in WBDG units per gram enzyme broth. One WBDG unit is defined as the amount of enzyme that liberates one nanomol para-nitrophenol per second from para- nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside under the defined assay conditions (4.7 mM pNPBDG, pH = 4.4 and T = 37°C).

Pretreated carbohydrate material ( i.e . pretreated lignocellulosic material (pretreated corn stover)) was made by incubating corn stover for 6.7 minutes at 186°C. Prior to the heat treatment, the corn stover was impregnated with H2SO4 for 10 minutes to set the pH at 2.3 during the pretreatment. A hydrolysed mixture was made by performing a hydrolysis reaction with the above pretreated corn stover at a final concentration of 17% (w/w) dry matter and a pH of 4.5. The hydrolysis reaction was done in a stirred, pH-controlled (pH 4.5) and temperature-controlled (62°C) closed reactor with a working volume of 1 I. The reaction vessel was filled with the 17% (w/w) pretreated corn stover and stirred at 150 rpm for 18 hours, while the headspace was continuously refreshed by a flow of nitrogen (100 ml/min) at 62°C to get the vessel anaerobic. Subsequently, the hydrolysis reactions were started by addition of the cellulase cocktail at a dose of 97 mg protein/g glucan (i.e. glucan in the pretreated corn stover). The hydrolysis vessel was kept anaerobic for 6 hours, after which the nitrogen flow (100 ml/min) was exchanged by an air flow (100 ml/min) resulting in a dissolved oxygen (DO) level of 5% (0.008 mol/m ³ ) in the reaction mixture as measured by a DO-electrode. The total hydrolysis time was 144 hours. After hydrolysis, the hydrolysed mixture was washed with water several times to remove soluble glucose.

The amount of g lucan/xylan in the hydrolysed mixture and in the pretreated carbohydrate material was measured according to the method described by Carvalho de Souza et al. (Carbohydrate Polymers, 95 (2013) 657-663). Lignin content in the hydrolysed mixture and in the pretreated carbohydrate material was analysed as follows. About 200 mg lyophilized hydrolysed mixture or pretreated carbohydrate material was incubated in 1 mL 75% (w/w) hLSC for 60 minutes at 30° C. After this, 6.2 mL water was added, mixed and incubated 90 minutes at 100° C. Then, samples were cooled and centrifuged for 5 minutes at 4500xg. The supernatant was discarded and the pellet washed with water, 0.04 M ammonia and water again resulting in an end pH of 6-8. The pellet was dried at 105° C for 5 hours. In the pellet the total ash content was determined using Thermogravimetric analysis (Mettler TGA/DSC-1 ) and nitrogen by Kjedahl (using 6.25 as protein factor). The amount of insoluble lignin was calculated as follows: pellet (g) - ash (g) - nitrogen (g) and expressed as % (w/w) of insoluble dry matter. The results of the analysis of the hydrolysed mixture and the pretreated carbohydrate material are shown in Table 1.

Next, the hydrolysed mixture was hydrolysed with the cellulase cocktail (+ beta- glucosidase) or the cellulase cocktail (+ beta-glucosidase) with laccase as described below. Hydrolysis was done with a 10% (w/w) hydrolysed mixture solution having a pH of 4.5. Hydrolysis reactions were done in 40 mL tubes filled with 20 g of the 10% (w/w) hydrolysed mixture solution in the presence of oxygen. Hydrolysis was started by addition of cellulase cocktail (88 mg cellulase cocktail protein/g glucan + 965 WBDG/g glucan) or addition of cellulase cocktail + laccase (22 mg cellulase cocktail protein/g glucan + 66 mg laccase protein/g glucan + 965 WBDG/g glucan). Hydrolysis was done in an oven incubator rotating at set-point 3 at 62°C. After 72 hours of hydrolysis, samples were taken for analysis which were immediately centrifuged for 8 min at 4000xg. The supernatant was filtered over 0.2 pm nylon filters (whatman) and stored at 4°C until analysis for sugar content as described below. The results of the analysis are shown in Table 2.

In addition, the pretreated carbohydrate material was hydrolysed with the cellulase cocktail (+ beta-glucosidase) or the cellulase cocktail (+ beta-glucosidase) with laccase as described below. Hydrolysis was done with a 10% (w/w) pretreated carbohydrate material solution having a pH of 4.5. Hydrolysis reactions were done in 40 mL tubes filled with 20 g of 10% (w/w) pretreated carbohydrate material solution in the presence of oxygen. Hydrolysis was started by addition of cellulase cocktail (8.44 mg cellulase cocktail protein/g glucan + 965 WBDG/g glucan or 12.0 mg cellulase cocktail protein/g glucan + 965 WBDG/g glucan) or addition of cellulase cocktail + laccase (8.0 mg cellulase cocktail protein/g glucan + 0.44 mg laccase protein/g glucan + 965 WBDG/g glucan or 8.0 mg cellulase cocktail protein/g glucan + 4.0 mg laccase protein/g glucan + 965 WBDG/g glucan). Hydrolysis was done in an oven incubator rotating at set-point 3 at 62°C. After 72 hours of hydrolysis, samples were taken for analysis which were immediately centrifuged for 8 min at 4000xg. The supernatant was filtered over 0.2 pm nylon filters (whatman) and stored at 4°C until analysis for sugar content as described below. The results of the analysis are shown in Table 3.

The sugar concentrations of the samples were measured using an HPLC equipped with an Aminex HPX-87H column according to the NREL technical report NREL/TP-510-42623, January 2008. Free glucose already present in the cellulase cocktail/ laccase sample was subtracted from the glucose values determined after 72h of hydrolysis.

Table 1 : Composition of pretreated carbohydrate material and hydrolysed mixture.

Table 2: Glucose released after 72h of hydrolysis of a 10% (w/w) hydrolysed mixture solution with either a cellulase cocktail or a combination of a cellulase cocktail and laccase.

Table 3: Glucose released after 72h of hydrolysis of a 10% (w/w) pretreated carbohydrate material solution with either a cellulase cocktail or a combination of a cellulase cocktail and laccase.

The results (see Table 2) clearly show that hydrolysis in the presence of laccase has a beneficial effect on the glucose release from a hydrolysed mixture solution as described herein (i.e. a pretreated carbohydrate material that has undergone hydrolysis with an enzyme composition (e.g. a hydrolysate)).

The presence of laccase does however not have a positive effect on glucose release from a pretreated carbohydrate material as described herein, i.e. a pretreated carbohydrate material that has not undergone hydrolysis with an enzyme composition (see Table 3).