R. BALAKRISHNARAJA, P. RAMALINGAM, J.S. NITHIYAA1 AND S. NITHYA
Abstract
Xylitol is naturally occurring sugar substitute and widely used in pharmaceutical industries. In the present investigation, xylitol was produced through biological reduction pathway using yeast strain by extracting xylose from agricultural residues like corn cob. Acid treatment with sulphuric acid with detoxification of 2% Calcium hydroxide is done to reduce the inhibiting factors like acetyl, furfural and phenolic compounds level. A comparative study of xylitol production using corn cob and pure xylose supplemented minimal medium was performed. The average maximum yield of xylitol after 120 hours of fermentation at 30°c and pH 5.0 using Corn Cob was 0.34 g/g of xylose. Under optimum conditions, modified minimum medium yield of xylitol was 0.42 g/g of xylose. Although the yield is low, the corn cob is the economical and novel sources for xylitol production in the commercial scale.