Application of xylanase from Thermomyces lanuginosus IOC-4145 for enzymatic hydrolysis of corncob and sugarcane bagasse.

Xylanases have significant current and potential uses for several industries including paper and pulp, food, and biofuel. For the biofuel industry, xylanases can be used to aid in the conversion of lignocellulose to fermentable sugars (e.g., xylose). We investigated the thermophilic fungus Thermomyces lanuginosus was yielded for xylanase production and found that the highest activity (850 U/mL) was yielded after 96 h of semisolid fermentation. The enzyme was used for hydrolyzing agricultural residues with and without pretreatment. Such residues were characterized in relation to the maximum xylose content by total acid hydrolysis. The highest xylose yields realized by enzymatic hydrolysis were 24 and 52%, achieved by using 3000 U/g (dried material) of sugarcane bagasse and corncob, respectively, which received both alkali and thermal pretreatment.