A combined process is used for efficient isolation and purification of xylobiose from xylanase-hydrolysed sugarcane bagasse xylan hydrolysate

Biotechnological process for co-production of glucose and xylooligosaccharides from sugarcane bagasse generated a xylobiose-rich sugarcane bagasse xylan hydrolysate. However, sugarcane bagasse xylan hydrolysate is a complex mixture and how to isolate and purify xylobiose from sugarcane bagasse xylan hydrolysate is challenging. In the present study, an efficient combined process consisting of resin adsorption and gel filtration chromatography was developed to isolate and purify xylobiose from sugarcane bagasse xylan hydrolysate using a central composite design-based response surface methodology. The process purified xylobiose to 95.74 ± 1.43%, with a recovery of 93.61 ± 3.50%, and achieved decolourization and desalination rates of 77.59 ± 3.79% and 96.85 ± 1.43%, respectively. Mass balance analysis revealed maximum yields of 64.38 ± 3.47 mg (xylobiose), 6.71 ± 2.20 mg (xylotriose) and 6.71 ± 1.70 mg (xylose) from 100 mg of total sugars in sugarcane bagasse xylan hydrolysate. This process may improve the high-value bio-refinery of sugarcane bagasse.