Modeling Multiscale Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Cellulose: Coupled Population Balances for Bridging the Particle and Polymer Scales

Enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose has long been the subject of scientific inquiry, owing to its potential to produce fermentable sugars for biofuel production and other high-value products. Yet, the process remains fraught with scientific challenges due to its inherent multiscale complexity. This thesis develops a new modeling framework that couples the key mechanisms operating across multiple scales of the process by using population balances. The insight into the rate-limiting mechanism and multiscale dynamics of the process gained from the model will be invaluable in achieving precise control of the system.