Solutions and methods are disclosed for the extraction and quantification of cellulose derived from cellulosic biomass samples. Improved extraction yields and selectivities are provided through the use of an extraction solvent mixture comprising an aprotic solvent such as DMSO, a quaternary ammonium salt such as TBAF, and an quaternary ammonium base such as TBAOH. The extracted cellulose can be optionally precipitated using disclosed precipitation solutions to further improve cellulose purity. Extracted cellulose can be measured by hydrolyzing the cellulose to glucose or cellobiose, or by using disclosed spectrophotometric assays of cellulose-salt complexes.

The application relates to an enzyme composition, a process for the preparation thereof and the use of the enzyme composition in enzymatic hydrolysis.

The invention relates to a host cell comprising at least four different heterologous polynucleotides chose from the group of polynucleotides encoding cellulases, hemicellulases and pectinases, wherein the host cell is capable of producing the at least four different enzymes chosen from the group of cellulases, hemicellulases and pectinases, wherein the host cell is a filam-tous fungus and is capable of secretion of the at least four different enzymes. This host cell can suitably be used for the production of an enzyme composition that can be use in a process for the saccharification of cellulosic material.

The invention relates to a host cell comprising at least four different heterologous polynucleotides chose from the group of polynucleotides encoding cellulases, hemicellulases and pectinases, wherein the host cell is capable of producing the at least four different enzymes chosen from the group of cellulases, hemicellulases and pectinases, wherein the host cell is a filam-tous fungus and is capable of secretion of the at least four different enzymes. This host cell can suitably be used for the production of an enzyme composition that can be use in a process for the saccharification of cellulosic material.

Solutions and methods are disclosed for the extraction and quantification of cellulose derived from cellulosic biomass samples. Improved extraction yields and selectivities are provided through the use of an extraction solvent mixture comprising an aprotic solvent such as DMSO, a quaternary ammonium salt such as TBAF, and an quaternary ammonium base such as TBAOH. The extracted cellulose can be optionally precipitated using disclosed precipitation solutions to further improve cellulose purity. Extracted cellulose can be measured by hydrolyzing the cellulose to glucose or cellobiose, or by using disclosed spectrophotometric assays of cellulose-salt complexes.

The present invention relates to a process for forming a functionalised dietary fibre comprising admixing an enzyme and an aqueous suspension of dietary fibre, wherein said dietary fibre is at a D.sub.50 particle size distribution of less than 30 microns after degradation by the enzyme and comprises less than 25 wt. % soluble fibres and at least 40% wt. % cellulose; denaturing said enzyme to form a functionalised, amphiphilic dietary fibre with adsorbed enzyme. The present invention further relates to a Pickering particle comprising a functionalised dietary fibre and denatured enzyme and the use of the functionalised dietary fibre and denatured enzyme according to present invention or the Pickering particle according to the present invention to stabilize an emulsion.

The present invention relates to a process for forming a functionalised dietary fibre comprising admixing an enzyme and an aqueous suspension of dietary fibre, wherein said dietary fibre is at a D.sub.50 particle size distribution of less than 30 microns after degradation by the enzyme and comprises less than 25 wt. % soluble fibres and at least 40% wt. % cellulose; denaturing said enzyme to form a functionalised, amphiphilic dietary fibre with adsorbed enzyme. The present invention further relates to a Pickering particle comprising a functionalised dietary fibre and denatured enzyme and the use of the functionalised dietary fibre and denatured enzyme according to present invention or the Pickering particle according to the present invention to stabilize an emulsion.

The present invention relates to enzyme compositions comprising a polypeptide having cellobiohydrolase II activity, a polypeptide having xylanase activity, and one or more cellulolytic proteins and their use in the degradation or conversion of cellulosic material.

The invention relates to a polypeptide comprising an exoglucanase catalytic domain comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2 and SEQ ID NO: 3, and to a polypeptide having beta-glucosidase activity comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7 and SEQ ID NO: 8, and to functionally equivalent variants thereof that maintain or improve their catalytic activity. Additionally, the invention relates to an enzyme cocktail comprising said polypeptide(s) and an endoglucanase. Further, the invention also relates to methods for hydrolysing cellulose to cellobiose and/or cellotetraose, cellobiose and/or cellotetraose to glucose and cellulose to glucose, and to produce bioethanol, using the polypeptides or enzyme cocktails of the invention, and to the uses of the polypeptides and enzyme cocktails of the invention for hydrolysing cellulose to cellobiose and/or cellotetraose, cellobiose and/or cellotetraose to glucose and cellulose to glucose, and to produce bioethanol.

The present invention relates to enzyme compositions for high temperature saccharification of cellulosic material and to uses thereof.