Research Article Open Access

ENHANCED PRODUCTION OF XYLANASE FROM LOCAL FUNGAL ISOLATES AND EFFECTIVENESS IN PULP TREATMENT

Abstract

Xylanases have huge potential applications in many industries used for the conversion of xylan present in lignocellulose to sugars. Xylanase producing Aspergillus niger islolates were obtained by congo red method of screening from soils collected from different parts of Davangere. Submerged and solid state fermentation were done on natural substrates like- corncob, saw dust and rice husk to check the enhanced production of xylanase. Corncob was found to be the best natural substrate for high activity of xylanase (1.85 units.ml-1) under solid state fermentation compared to submerged fermentation than the standard birch wood xylan substrate (1.22 units.ml-1). The screened, unbleached pulp from sugarcane bagasse was treated with partially purified xylanase and its effectiveness in biobleaching was determined by the Kappa number. The kappa number obtained for enzyme treated pulp showed twenty point reduction than untreated pulp. The %lignin content was also less (two point reduction) for enzyme treated pulp.

Varsha D Savanth1, Seema J Patel

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