Cellulase

Cellulase is a complex of three enzymes (endoglucanase, exoglucanase and beta-glucosidase) that hydrolyse cellulose into glucose. In food processing the complex is used to break down plant cell walls, supporting extraction, viscosity reduction and dietary fibre modification.

Off-white to light tan free-flowing powder, or amber liquid. Activity is standardised in CMC Units (carboxymethylcellulose substrate) for endoglucanase activity, FPU (filter paper units) for total cellulolytic activity, or per supplier convention.

We supply food-grade Cellulase from manufacturers in China holding ISO 22000, Halal, Kosher and other certifications relevant to the product and production. Trichoderma reesei and Aspergillus niger are the dominant source organisms.

Common market grades include 10,000 CMC U/g standard food grade, 50,000 CMC U/g for fruit and vegetable maceration, 100,000 CMC U/g concentrated, and complex macerating blends combining cellulase with pectinase and hemicellulase for total plant cell-wall breakdown.

Bulk and reduced-MOQ shipments. Batch-level COA covering activity, pH optimum, temperature optimum, hemicellulase side activity, heavy metals and microbiology.

Cellulase research began in earnest during World War II when the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps studied microbial degradation of cotton uniforms in Pacific jungles, leading to the isolation of the Trichoderma viride strain QM6a and subsequent industrial development of Trichoderma reesei as the dominant production organism.

Industrial production is by submerged fermentation of selected Trichoderma reesei strains, which secrete a complete cellulolytic complex at very high titres, and Aspergillus niger strains, which deliver superior beta-glucosidase activity. Modern preparations are often blended to balance endoglucanase, exoglucanase and beta-glucosidase activities for the target application.

The enzyme complex is Generally Recognized as Safe by the U.S. FDA from approved source organisms, listed in the JECFA enzyme compendium, and approved as a processing aid in the EU. No Acceptable Daily Intake is assigned.

Mechanistically, the three core activities operate sequentially. Endoglucanase cleaves internal beta-1,4-glucosidic bonds at random positions in amorphous regions of the cellulose chain. Exoglucanase (cellobiohydrolase) attacks the chain ends, releasing cellobiose. Beta-glucosidase then hydrolyses cellobiose to free glucose. Without all three activities the system stalls and yields drop.

Strategic positioning in industrial food processing is expanding as plant-based ingredient manufacture scales: cellulase is a core processing aid in modern plant-protein, plant-pigment and functional-fibre manufacture, and the same enzyme platform supports adjacent industries including bioethanol and textile processing.

• Fruit and vegetable juice extraction; cell-wall breakdown supports yield and pigment release
• Citrus oil and aroma recovery from peel and pulp
• Functional ingredient extraction including beta-carotene, lycopene and polyphenols
• Brewing of beer; assists in viscosity reduction of high-adjunct mashes
• Plant-protein isolate manufacture; assists in cell-wall disruption and protein release
• Coffee and cocoa processing; assists in mucilage degradation during wet processing
• Olive oil extraction; supports yield in modern continuous-press operations
• Tea processing; supports extraction of soluble solids in instant tea manufacture
• Dietary fibre modification in plant-based ingredients