Polysaccharides from bagasse: applications in cellulase and xylanase production

Sugarcane bagasse was chemically treated to generate different bagasse samples with varying quantities of lignin and hemicelluoses, keeping the cellulose fraction intact in all cases. These bagasse samples were evaluated for the production of cellulase and xylanase enzymes by Penicillium janthinellum NCIM 1171 and Trichoderma viride NCIM 1051 in the production medium. Higher xylanase and β-glucosidase activities were detected in the medium with all bagasse samples as compared to the values obtained with pure cellulose powder 123 (CP-123). Amongst all bagasse samples, sample IV (kappa number 22.9) gave the highest yields of xylanase (130 IU/ml) and β-glucosidase activities (2.3 IU/ml) in case of P. janthinellum. There was no increase in cellulase (FPase and CMCase) activities in both strains irrespective of the bagasse sample compared to the values obtained in presence of CP-123. The productivities of all the enzymes except CMCase in medium containing bagasse sample IV are higher as compared to pure CP-123. The productivity of Fpase is slightly lower when T. viride NCIM 1051 is grown in a medium containing BS-IV. More studies have to be carried out to generate bagasse samples, which can be used as substrates to produce high levels of cellulases and hemicellulases in proper proportion. This may in turn reduce the cost of enzyme production leading to efficient use of lignocellulosic materials to produce value-added products.