The Production of Xylitol by Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Agricultural Wastes

Agricultural waste products, beech wood and walnut shells, were hydrolyzed at 40$^{\circ}C$ using mixed crude enzymes produced by Penicillium sp. AHT-1 and Rhizomucor pusillus HHT-1. D-xylose, 4.1 g and 15.1 g was produced from the hydrolysis of 100 g of beech wood and walnut shells, respectively. For xylitol production, Candida tropicalis IFO0618 and the waste product hydrolyzed solutions were used. The effects on xylitol production, of adding glucose as a NADPH source, D-xylose and yeast extract, were examined. Finally, a 50% yield of xylitol was obtained by using the beech wood hydrolyzed solution with the addition of 1% yeast extract and 1% glucose at an initial concentration.