Sorghum husk biomass as a potential substrate for production of cellulolytic and xylanolytic enzymes by Nocardiopsis sp. KNU.

Nocardiopsis sp. KNU was found to degrade various lignocellulosic waste materials, namely, sorghum husk, sugarcane tops and leaves, wheat straw, and rice husk very efficiently. The strain was found to produce high amounts of cellulase and hemicellulase. Augmentation of cotton seed cake as an organic nitrogen source revealed inductions in activities of endoglucanase, glucoamylase, and xylanase up to 70.03, 447.89, and 275.10 U/ml, respectively. Nonionic surfactant Tween-80 addition was found to enhance the activity of endoglucanase enzyme. Cellulase produced by Nocardiopsis sp. KNU utilizing sorghum husk as a substrate was found to retain its stability in various surfactants up to 90%. The produced enzyme was further tested for saccharification of mild alkali pretreated rice husk. The changes in morphology and functional group were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Enzymatic saccharification confirmed the hydrolytic potential of crude cellulase. The hydrolysate products were analyzed by high-performance thin layer chromatography.