POTENTIAL APPLICATION OF YEAST CELLULASE-FREE XYLANASE IN AGROWASTE MATERIAL TREATMENT TO REMOVE HEMICELLULOSE FRACTIONS

Yeast cellulose-free xylanase was used for treatment of different agri cultural waste residues including com cob powder raw jute fibers and s ugarcane bagasse pulp. The high degree of hydrolysis (19.4%) was achie ved by using 22 IU ml(-1) yeast xylanase in the case of treated bagass e pulp. Corn cob powder and raw jute fiber showed a slower rare of hyd rolysis under the same conditions. The enzymatic hydrolysis was carrie d our using citrate buffer (50 mM, pH 4.5) at 52-53 degrees C for diff erent time intervals. The hydrolysis products were analysed by HPLC, a nd xylose was found to be the major end product with traces of xylobio se and xylotriose at the beginning of hydrolysis. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sc ience Ltd. All rights reserved.