In situ enzyme aided adsorption of soluble xylan biopolymers onto cellulosic material

• Enzymatically modified xylans adsorpbed more onto cotton lint than unmodified xylan.
• α-d-Glucuronidase increased adsorption of glucuronoxylans and arabinoglucuronoxylans.
• Modified glucuronoxylan adsorbed more onto cotton lint than arabinoglucuronoxylan.
• Wood xylans were suitable for enzyme-aided adsorption onto cotton lint.
• Enzyme-aided xylan adsorption varied cotton lint chemical and physical properties.

The functional properties of cellulose fibers can be modified by adsorption of xylan biopolymers. The adsorption is improved when the degree of biopolymers substitution with arabinose and 4-O-methyl-glucuronic acid (MeGlcA) side groups, is reduced. α-l-Arabinofuranosidase (AbfB) and α-d-glucuronidase (AguA) enzymes were applied for side group removal, to increase adsorption of xylan from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L) bagasse (BH), bamboo (Bambusa balcooa) (BM), Pinus patula (PP) and Eucalyptus grandis (EH) onto cotton lint. The AguA treatment increased the adsorption of all xylans by up to 334%, whereas, the AbfB increased the adsorption of the BM and PP by 31% and 44%, respectively. A combination of AguA and AbfB treatment increased the adsorption, but to a lesser extent than achieved with AguA treatment. This indicated that the removal of the glucuronic acid side groups provided the most significant increase in xylan adsorption to cellulose, in particular through enzymatic treatment.