Production of β-xylanase by a Thermomyces lanuginosus MC 134 mutant on corn cobs and its application in biobleaching of bagasse pulp

The production of hemicellulases by Thermomyces lanuginosus SK using oatspelts xylan was examined during submerged cultivation. A high level of extracellular xylanase (346 ± 10 U ml− 1) production was observed on the fifth day; however, accessory enzyme levels were low. T. lanuginosus SK was further subjected to UV and N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis. The T. lanuginosus MC 134 mutant showed a 1.5 fold increase in xylanase production on oatspelts xylan, compared to the wild type strain. Xylanase production was further enhanced to 3299 ± 95 U ml− 1 by using corn cobs under optimized growth conditions. A reduction in xylanase production was observed in a 5 L fermenter. Also, the biobleaching efficiency of crude xylanase was evaluated on bagasse pulp, and a brightness of 46.07 ± 0.05% was observed with the use of 50 U of crude xylanase per gram of pulp. This brightness was 3.6 points higher than that of the untreated samples. Reducing sugars (25.78 ± 0.14 mg g− 1) and UV-absorbing lignin-derived compound values were considerably higher in xylanase-treated samples. T. lanuginosus MC 134 has a potential application in the pulp and paper industries.