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Characterization of a thermostable and alkaline xylanase from Bacillus sp. and its bleaching impact on wheat straw pulp

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Abstract

Delignification efficacy of xylanases to facilitate the consequent chemical bleaching of Kraft pulps has been studied widely. In this work, an alkaline and thermally stable cellulase-less xylanase, derived from a xylanolytic Bacillus subtilis, has been purified by a combination of gel filtration and Q-Sepharose chromatography to its homogeneity. Molecular weight of the purified xylanase was 61 kDa by SDS–PAGE. The purified enzyme revealed an optimum assay temperature and pH of 60°C and 8.0, respectively. Xylanase was active in the pH range of 6.0–9.0 and stable up to 70°C. Divalent ions like Ca2+, Mg2+ and Zn2+ enhanced xylanase activity, whereas Hg2+, Fe2+, and Cu2+ were inhibitory to xylanase at 2 mM concentration. It showed K m and V max values of 9.5 mg/ml and 53.6 μmol/ml/min, respectively, using birchwood xylan as a substrate. Xylanase exhibited higher values of turn over number (K cat) and catalytic efficiency (K cat/K m) with birchwood xylan than oat spelt xylan. Bleach-boosting enzyme activity at 30 U/g dry pulp displayed the optimum bio-delignification of Kraft pulp resulting in 26.5% reduction in kappa number and 18.5% ISO induction in brightness at 55°C after 3 h treatment. The same treatment improved the pulp properties including tensile strength and burst index, demonstrating its potential application in pre-bleaching of Kraft pulp.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, 54590, Pakistan

    Mahjabeen Saleem & Farheen Aslam

  2. Government Islamia College, Civil Lines, Lahore, 54590, Pakistan

    Muhammad Saleem Akhtar

  3. National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan

    Mohsin Tariq & Muhammad Ibrahim Rajoka

  4. Government College University, Allama Iqbal Road, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan

    Mohsin Tariq & Muhammad Ibrahim Rajoka

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  1. Mahjabeen Saleem
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  2. Farheen Aslam
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  3. Muhammad Saleem Akhtar
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  4. Mohsin Tariq
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  5. Muhammad Ibrahim Rajoka
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Correspondence to Mahjabeen Saleem.

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Saleem, M., Aslam, F., Akhtar, M.S. et al. Characterization of a thermostable and alkaline xylanase from Bacillus sp. and its bleaching impact on wheat straw pulp. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 28, 513–522 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-011-0842-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-011-0842-z

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