Abstract:
In the current study, the production of extracellular xylanase by Bacillus
pumilus SY30A was investigated in a solid state fermentation. The effects of temperature
and pH on xylanase production were tested. The best physical parameters observed for
the enzyme production by B. pumilus SY30A were 37 °C and pH 9 respectively. Results
showed that wheat bran was found to support the highest yield of xylanase among various
carbon sources tested. The maximum enzyme production was obtained 1438 IU/g after 72
h of fermentation. The crude xylanase was then used to pretreat the unbleached oil palm
soda-anthraquinone pulp. Results showed that with only 20 U of B. pumilus SY30A crude
extract xylanase of 55 °C for 1 hour, decreased the kappa number of 43% while increased
the pulp viscosity of 10%. This preliminary study on paper pulp bleaching disclosed the
potential use of B. pumilus SY30A xylanase as biobleaching agent, which is also a more
environmental sustainable method in comparison to those conventional chemical bleaching
method.
