The production of D-xylose by enzymatic hydrolysis of agricultural wastes

Agricultural wastes, rich in D-xylose content, were hydrolyzed using the mixed crude enzymes produced by Penicillium sp. AHT-1 and Rhizomucor pusillus HHT-1. Shells of pistachio, peanut, walnut, chestnut, barley brans and sunflower seed peels, were used as raw or pretreated forms. Pretreatment was performed by milling or steam explosion. Enzymatic hydrolysis after steam explosion was more effective than milling processing. More than 13 g of D-xylose was produced from 100 g of milled pistachio shells, walnut shells, sunflower seed peels and peanut shells (less than 0.5 mm size) by the action of mixed enzyme solutions. A maximum of 36 g of D-xylose was produced from 100 g of milled pistachio shells when mixed enzyme solution, containing 3,000 U and 33 U per g of substrate with xylanase and β-xyosidase activities, respectively, was applied. The ratio of the enzymatic hydrolysis as compared to acid hydrolysis in this finding was 100%.