Studies on Xylanase Production by Aspergillus niger on Tomato Pomace Medium

Abstract

There is a need for locally produced xylanase because of its vast importance and high cost of importation. Xylanase is used for many industrial processes such as for baking, bleaching paper pulp, bioethanol production and juice clarification. This study was therefore carried out to examine the potentials of tomato pomace as part of the growth medium for xylanase production. The objectives are to identify the specific activities of xylanase from the basal salt medium and the tomato pomace medium and to  determine the Partial Purification of xylanase obtained from tomato pomace medium inoculated with A.niger This study isolated xylanase from A. niger on tomato pomace medium. The xylanase was partially purified and characterized. A. niger was obtained from deteriorated banana (Musa acuminata) fruit.  A 72-h-old culture of A. niger was employed as the inoculum. It was inoculated onto Tomato pomace medium and a basal salt. Xylanase production was carried out after four days at room temperature (27 ^oC). Xylanase activity was determined by measuring the released reducing sugar (xylose). The specific activities of xylanase from the basal salt medium and the tomato pomace medium were 3.6 U/mg and 2.0 U/mg respectively. Partial purification of xylanase was by Ammonium sulphate precipitation. Optimum substrate concentration of 0.5mg/ml and a purification fold of 4.3 were obtained. The Michael is Menten constant (Km) from the Line-weaver burk plot was approximately 0.50mg/ml. This study established appreciable activity of xylanase from the A. niger used. It is therefore a potential organism for the utilization of tomato waste for xylanase production.

Keywords: Aspergillus niger, Xylanase, Tomato, pomace, Banana (Musa acuminate)