Investigations on the effect of driving parameters for xylitol production from water hyacinth biomass

Abstract

Acid hydrolysis of fresh water hyacinth biomass has been performed under different conditions; soaking time (1 - 4 h), temperature (30^oC, 40^oC, 50^oC and 60^oC), agitation speed (130, 160 and 190 rpm), dilute acid solution (1%, 3% and 5% of H₂SO₄) and treatment time (5 - 30 min) for obtaining the optimum xylose yield with further fermentation towards xylitol production in the present study. The parametric conditions were optimized by using MATLAB and Design Expert software. The maximum xylose yield of 211 mg/g was obtained at the optimal condition of soaking time of 2 h at 50°C temperature with agitation speed of 160 rpm with 3% of dilute acid solution and 20 min of treatment time. The xylose obtained was fermented to get 0.63 g and 0.61 g of xylitol using <em>Pichia stipitis </em>and <em>Candida shehatae </em>respectively after 48 h of fermentation at 30^oC from 1 g of xylose.