Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for increasing the rate of enzymatic hydrolysis of a polysaccharide substrate, said method comprising at least one step of: enzymatic hydrolysis of said substrate with a mixture of enzymes, said mixture comprising at least one enzyme selected from lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases; in the presence of chemically modified lignin, wherein during at least part of the time of said step of enzymatic hydrolysis, H2O2 is supplied to the reaction mixture comprising said substrate, said mixture of enzymes and said chemically modified lignin, either from an external source or by generation in situ.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous process for the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic biomass and to an apparatus for conducting said process. According to the present invention, a steady state is achieved in a reactor in regard to the hydrolysis reaction. Therein, cellulosic biomass of a high total solids content (preferably 10% or higher, further preferably between 15 and 30%) is continually added to said reactor, while at least partially hydrolyzed cellulosic biomass is continually removed from said reactor. The steady state is adjusted, i.e. the amount of cellulosic biomass added and the amount of at least partially hydrolyzed cellulosic biomass removed is adjusted, so that the retention time of a given portion of added cellulosic biomass in the reactor is longer than its “liquefaction time”, i.e. the time period required to transform a solid slurry into a pumpable liquid during hydrolysis, i.e.