Constructing of ultrahigh pH-responsive polycarboxylic copolymers for enhanced recycling cellulase from enzymatic hydrolyzate of corncob resides

• PAMAs with ultrahigh pH response were recyclable. • PAMAs were used to recover cellulase with a narrow pH range. • Cellulase was recovered by co-precipitating with PAMAs. • PAMAs improved cellulase recovery effect of substrate re-adsorption. • 50% of cellulase amount was saved in CCR hydrolyzate with adding PAMA-1. The high cost of the enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulose is a major problem for the industrialization of lignocellulose-based sugar platform technology. Cellulase recovery is a vital approach to reduce the enzymatic hydrolysis cost. In this study, ultrahigh pH-responsive copolymers (PAMAs) were obtained from methacrylamide, sodium methacrylate and [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]-trimethylammonium chloride. A PAMA addition method coupled with substrate reabsorption was used to efficiently recover cellulase in a narrow pH range. The enzymatic hydrolysis system of corncob resides (pH = 5.0) was supplemented with 1.0 g/L PAMA-1. After hydrolysis, the PAMAs coprecipitate with cellulase when adjusting the pH value of the hydrolysate to 4.4. When coupled with substrate reabsorption, 50 % of the cellulase was recovered. This method therefore represents a feasible solution to reduce the high enzymatic hydrolysis cost of the industrialization of lignocellulose-based sugar platform technology.