Abstract
Xylitol has received great attention in the food and pharmaceutical industries because of its low caloric value and anticariogenic property. We examined the preparation of xylose from the culm of Kumaimazasa (Sasa senanensis), an important forest biomass in Hokkaido. The ground culms (42-80 mesh) were hydrolyzed with dilute sulfuric acid at 121℃ for 1h. In the range of sulfuric acid concentration studied (1 to 4%), the recovery yield of solubilized sugars increased with increasing sulfuric acid concentration. When the substrate was hydrolyzed with 2% sulfuric acid, 85% xylan present in the raw material could be recovered as xylose (corresponding to about 67% of solubilized sugar). An additional increase in the acid concentration resulted in a slight decrease in the xylose yield. It is known that furfural, methylfurfural, and low molecular phenols generate from cell-wall polysaccharides and lignin in the substrate during hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials at elevated temperatures. These substances are toxic to microorganisms, and inhibit the fermentation of xylose by yeast. The use of activated char was efficient in removal of these inhibitors from the hydrolysates.
