Oral Presentation 6-03

 

Xylanase Production by Penicillium canescens in

Solid-State Fermentation on Agricultural Wastes

 

Y. Bakri, P. Jacques, and P. Thonart

 

Centre Wallon de Biologie Industrielle

Agricultural University of Gembloux

Passage des Deportes 2

Gembloux, 5030 Belgium

 

Telephone: +3281622311; Fax: +3281614222; E-mail: jacques.p@fsagx.ac.be

 

The use of purified xylan enhances the cost of enzyme production and is a major limitation to the economic feasibility of bioconversion and utilization of lignocellulosic materials.  Therefore, production of xylanase by Penicillium canescens 10-10c under solid state culture (SSC) was tested with five easily available substrates as carbon sources:  wheat straw, wheat bran, sugar beet pulp, soybean meal, and corn cob.  The effect of different nitrogen sources on xylanase production was also investigated.  A high xylanase activity was obtained by using wheat straw as a carbon source and yeast extract as a nitrogen source.  The optimal initial ratio of carbon source to mineral solution for xylanase production was 1:5.  A particle size of wheat straw <1 mm produced a higher enzyme activity.  Under these conditions, yields as high as 10164 U/g of carbon source were obtained.  Xylanase production was improved by the addition of 0.4 g xylan to the wheat straw.  Xylanase activity also increased in the presence of 2% (w/w) xylose and glucose.

 

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