Process Biochemistry · 2020 · 166 citations · 82 references
Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) are prebiotic sugars derived from lignocellulosic biomass, and while conventional production relies on acidic or basic catalysts, recent hydrothermal, steam‑explosion, and green‑catalyst approaches offer more environmentally friendly routes with reduced waste. This review surveys XOS production strategies, detailing process variables for xylan extraction and depolymerization from key biomasses such as sugarcane bagasse, corncob, and wheat straw, and discusses food applications and future directions. The authors examine hydrothermal pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and other depolymerization techniques, evaluating variables such as pressure, temperature, and catalyst type to optimize XOS yield and polymerization degree. Hydrothermal pretreatment, especially when coupled with enzymatic hydrolysis, can yield high‑quality XOS with low degree of polymerization and minimal impurities, making it a promising strategy for prebiotic production.
Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) are prebiotics derived from lignocellulosic materials presenting important functional properties. Traditional methods of XOS production often require the presence of acidic and basic catalysts for xylan extraction. However, new strategies and technologies such as hydrothermal, steam explosion, and green catalysts have been used to obtain XOS. Overall, these technologies are considered more environmentally friendly due to the lower amount of waste generated. This review summarizes the strategies used in XOS production, describing the process variables involved in xylan extraction and depolymerization, mainly for the most cited biomasses: sugarcane bagasse, corncob and wheat straw. Additionally, technical applications in the food area and future perspectives are presented. The use of hydrothermal pretreatment may be a promising strategy for xylan extraction. Besides the higher pressure and temperature, the conditions can be optimized to achieve satisfactory yields with minimal release of impurities and inhibitors. The enzymatic treatment should be combined to achieve higher yields of XOS with a low degree of polymerization, which is required for prebiotic function. Importantly, adequate knowledge of the lignocellulosic composition of biomass, particularly, the characteristics of hemicellulose chains, is needed to determine the best process conditions.
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Ana Flávia Azevedo Carvalho, Pedro de Oliva Neto, Douglas Fernandes da Silva et al. · Food Research International · 2012 · 375 citations