Synthesis of Dual‐Responsive Materials with Reversible and Switchable Phase‐Transition Properties for High‐Performance Cellulose Enzymatic Hydrolysis

Abstract The solid–solid (immobilized cellulase–insoluble cellulose) phase cellulose hydrolysis reaction is significant in cellulosic biomass conversion processes but hindered because of its low efficiency. Herein, a smart temperature–pH dual‐responsive material (D‐N‐N material) was prepared to be used as a carrier for cellulase recovery. This D‐N‐N material could undergo reversible and switchable transitions between solution, hydrogel, and solid phases. The following results were demonstrated: 1) the hydrolytic degree of this strategy could be as high as that of free cellulase in buffer solution; 2) the cellulase could be encapsulated into the D‐N‐N hydrogel without significant leaching and most of the cellulase activity was retained after recycling for at least 10 batches; and 3) more than 95 % of the glucose inside the hydrogel could be extracted during the hydrogel–solid transition within 1 h, which can assist in the high‐efficiency separation of cellulase from glucose. The results suggested that this strategy provides a feasible platform for efficient cellulose hydrolysis and could be applied to other bio‐derived reactions.