Abstract:
The objective of this study is to improve the stability of an alkaline xylanase with selected
polyols and salts, which was produced by a locally isolated alkalo-thermophilic Bacillus
pumilus. Xylanases with higher stability are used for the application in paper and pulp industry
for bio bleaching. In the absences of additives at 55˚C, the xylanase retained 38(±1.0)% of its
initial activity at 30min and retained 45.6 (±0.76) and 20.6(±0.84)% of its initial activity at pH
8.0 and 9.0 respectively. Xylanase which contained polyols such as 10mM Poly Ethylene Glycol
(PEG)-8000, 1M glycerol and 2M sorbitol the enzyme retained 24.0(±0.34), 19.0(±0.84) and
53.8(±0.57)% of its initial activity respectively at 60min. Addition of 10mM NaCl lost all of its
activity while the enzyme retained
88.4(±0.18)% of its initial activity in the presence of 10mMCaCl2. Sorbitol and CaCl2 were the
best additives among the polyols and salts respectively. CaCl2 and sorbitol of different
concentrations were studied and the halflives of the xylanase in presences of 10mM CaCl2 and
2M sorbitol were 302 and 63min respectively. When both 10mM CaCl2 and 2M sorbitol were
used together, the enzyme retained more (95%) of its initial activity at 60min than that in
presence of 10mM CaCl2 (88%) and 2M sorbitol (53%) individually. At 55˚C half-life of the
xylanase in presence of CaCl2, sorbitol and CaCl2 & sorbitol were 18, 47 and 552min
respectively. The enzyme contained both CaCl2 & sorbitol helped to retain 95, 88 and 18% of
the initial activity at 55, 60 and 65oC respectively; while at 70oC it lost all of its activity at
120min. Xylanase from B.pumilus was stable at 60oC for 2h with both CaCl2 & sorbitol.
