Optimization of Xylan and Xylanase Production from Aquatic Weeds to Explore their Potential for Xylo-Oligosaccharide Production

Abstract

Aquatic weeds are often perceived as ecological nuisances due to their rapid growth and invasive tendencies. The growing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly sources of bioactive compounds has led to increased interest in utilizing aquatic weeds for value-added product generation. The current production of oligosaccharides largely relies on costly raw materials and energy intensive processes, limiting their commercial viability. At the same time, aquatic weeds like Ipomea aquatica, Nymphoides hydrophylla and Eicchornia crassipes which are abundantly available but underutilized. These aquatic weeds are rich in lignocellulosic and polysaccharide components, making them promising, low-cost feedstocks for oligosaccharide production. The current study deals with the production of xylan and xylanase from these aquatic weeds. The optimum conditions for xylan extraction under alkaline pretreatment were found to be uniform for all the aquatic weeds. Highest amount of xylan (g) produced under this optimum condition from Ipomea aquatica, Nymphoides hydrophylla and Eicchornia crassipes viz. 58.4±0.88, 88.6±0.98 and 44.3±0.65 respectively. Neurospora crassa NCIM-1021 was found to be the potent producer of xylanase under this condition when aquatic weeds were utilised as substrate separately under solid state fermentation. The enzyme activity of xylanase produced (IU)  by N. crassa was found to be viz. 0.018, 0.005 and 0.002 when Ipomea aquatica, Nymphoides hydrophylla and Eicchornia crassipes were used as substrate respectively in solid state fermentation. These findings suggests that these aquatic weeds have immense potential to produce xylan and xylanase that can be further utilised for xylooligosaccharide production.