A biorefinery approach for enzymatic complex production for the synthesis of xylooligosaccharides from sugarcane bagasse

The use of low-cost feedstock for enzyme production is an environmental and economic solution. Sugarcane bagasse and soybean meal are employed in this study for optimised xylanase production with the concomitant synthesis of proteases. The enzymatic complex is produced by submerged fermentation by Aspergillus niger. Optimisation steps lead to a 2.16-fold increase in enzymatic activity. The fermentation kinetics are studied in Erlenmeyer flasks, a stirred tank reactor and a bubble column reactor, with the xylanase activities reaching 52.9; 33.7 and 60.5 U.mL^-1, respectively. The protease production profile is also better in the bubble column reactor, exceeding 7 U.mL^-1. The enzyme complex is then evaluated for the synthesis of xylooligosaccharides from sugarcane extracted xylan with a production of 3.1 g.L^-1 where xylotriose is the main product. Excellent perspectives are observed for the developed process with potential applications in the animal feed, prebiotics and paper industries.