The key difference between acid hydrolysis and enzymatic hydrolysis is that acid hydrolysis is a chemical process, whereas enzymatic hydrolysis is a biochemical process.
Hydrolysis refers to the cleavage of chemical bonds with the addition of a water molecule. It can occur in two ways: by chemical means or by biological means. When it occurs chemically, we call it acid hydrolysis and the cause of bond cleavage is a chemical species (an acid). However, hydrolysis via biological means is called enzymatic hydrolysis because the bond cleavage in this process occurs in the presence of enzymes.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Acid Hydrolysis
3. What is Enzymatic Hydrolysis
4. Side by Side Comparison – Acid Hydrolysis vs Enzymatic Hydrolysis in Tabular Form
5. Summary
What is Acid Hydrolysis?
Acid hydrolysis is the cleavage of chemical bonds in molecules via the addition of a water molecule in the presence of an acidic medium. However, this is not necessarily the addition of a water molecule; it can be the addition of the chemical elements of a water molecule that causes the bond cleavage.
Figure 01: An Example of Acid Hydrolysis
The cleavage process is catalyzed by a protic acid (an acid that is capable of donating hydrogen ions). The acid hydrolysis reactions are a type of nucleophilic substitution reactions. For example, the addition of H+ ions and OH- (hydroxyl ions) to cellulose molecule forms glucose molecules. However, we cannot use this term for hydration reaction of bond cleavage of double or triple bonds via electrophilic addition reaction.
What is Enzymatic Hydrolysis?
Enzymatic hydrolysis refers to the cleavage of chemical bonds in molecules via the addition of a water molecule in the presence of an enzyme. However, this is not necessarily the addition of a water molecule; it can be the addition of the chemical elements of a water molecule that causes the bond cleavage.
Figure 02: An Example of Enzymatic Hydrolysis
In this type of reactions, the enzyme acts as the catalyst for the reaction. This reaction is very important in the digestion of food in our body. It is a multiple-step reaction in which insoluble cellulose initially breaks down at a solid-liquid interface that forms in the digestion area via the synergetic action of enzymes such as endoglucanases. Moreover, it is very helpful in providing renewable energy. E.g. cellulosic ethanol.
What is the Difference Between Acid Hydrolysis and Enzymatic Hydrolysis?
Hydrolysis, which is the cleavage of chemical bonds in molecules, can happen in two ways as a chemical process and as a biological process. The chemical process is called the acid hydrolysis while the biological pathway is called enzymatic hydrolysis, depending on the cause of the bond cleavage. Therefore, the key difference between acid hydrolysis and enzymatic hydrolysis is that acid hydrolysis is a chemical process, whereas enzymatic hydrolysis is a biochemical process. Acid hydrolysis is important in chemical conversions such as the conversion of cellulose into glucose while enzymatic hydrolysis is important in the digestion of food, providing renewable energy, etc.
Below infographic tabulates the differences between acid hydrolysis and enzymatic hydrolysis.
Summary – Acid Hydrolysis vs Enzymatic Hydrolysis
Hydrolysis refers to the cleavage of chemical bonds in molecules. It can happen in two ways as a chemical process and as a biological process. The chemical process is called acid hydrolysis while the biological pathway is named as enzymatic hydrolysis, depending on the cause of the bond cleavage. Thus, the key difference between acid hydrolysis and enzymatic hydrolysis is that acid hydrolysis is a chemical process, whereas enzymatic hydrolysis is a biochemical process.
Reference:
1. Fan, Zhiliang. “Consolidated Bioprocessing for Ethanol Production.” Biorefineries, 2014, pp. 141–160., doi:10.1016/b978-0-444-59498-3.00007-5.
2. “Mechanism for the Acid Catalysed Hydrolysis of Esters.” Chem Guide, Available here.
3. “Enzymatic Hydrolysis.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 23 July 2018, Available here.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Epoxide hydrolysis” By ZSteinmetz – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Enzymatic hydrolysis of starch” By Knixon4 – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia