Improved upstream processing for detoxification and recovery of xylitol produced from corncob.

This work deals with the development of an improved process for xylitol production from corn cob hydrolysate by biotechnological routes emphasizing the detoxification of corncob acid hydrolysate. The acid hydrolysate obtained by acid hydrolysis of corn cob was concentrated and detoxified by activated charcoal, membrane process and ion exchange resin process. The resultant partially purified corncob hydrolysate was used in fermentation.

Efficient detoxification of corn cob hydrolysate with ion-exchange resins for enhanced xylitol production by Candida tropicalis MTCC 6192.

The present study demonstrates utilization of secondary agricultural wastes for xylitol production. The highest xylan-to-xylose (70%) conversion was achieved using dilute nitric acid as catalyst followed by resin treatment. Results show that resin treatment efficiently removed nitrate salt (70%), phenolic content and 5-HMF (70%).