RADHIKA KASHYAP , MONIKA AND SANDEEP TRIPATHI
Abstract
Lignocellulosic biomass has the potential to replace fossil fuels as the ultimate source of energy which in turn will tone down the disastrous effect of green house gases and global warming. Lignocellulosic biomass especially non-edible plant material can provide fermentable sugars which further can be converted into various energy rich compounds. For many years xylanase is being used actively for the conversion of xylan, the most common hemicellulosic component of biomass into various bioproducts and fuels. However, xylanase which can give cost competitive sugars remains a challenge. Present study involved screening of a xylanase producing bacterial isolate from hydrocarbon contaminated soil. Based on 16S rRNA gene analysis, the bacterial isolate was identified as Bacillus sp. R5-93. Upon characterization, crude xylanase by Bacillus sp. R5-93 was found to be cellulase free, acidothermophilic and organic solvent tolerant. Xylanase showed optimum activity at 50 oC and pH 5. Tolerance to organic solvents such as n-hexane, acetone, methanol, glycerol, isoamyl alcohol, diethyl ether and petroleum ether was also observed. Besides that, successful production of xylanase using agro-residues was done under submerged fermentation. These features make it a potential candidate for economic applicability in food, feed and biofuel industry.