Process for enzymatic production of xylo oligosacharides from the xylan of corn cobs

Abstract

Prebiotics are fast emerging as health‐promoting supplements. The study aimed to sculpture xylan from the corn cobs followed by xylooligosaccharides (XOS) production by enzymatic process. Application of 16% NaOH with steam enabled almost 90% recovery of original xylan contents. Commercial xylanase was used to hydrolyze xylan into XOS such as xylobiose (X2) and xylotriose (X3). Response surface modeling (RSM) was adopted to minimize xylose and maximize X2 and X3. According to RSM analysis, maximum X2 yield (1.208 mg/mL) was obtained at pH 5.97, temperature 41.22C, enzyme dose 7.28 U for 17.31 h of hydrolysis. However, highest (0.715 mg/mL) X3 production was recorded at pH 5.91, temperature 40.87C, enzyme dose of 5.83 U for 16.59 h of incubation. Application of NaOH (16%) coupled with steam enabled corn cobs to release 90% of original xylan that could be enzymatically converted into prebiotics such as XOS.