Application of xylanase for valorisation of pectin production side streams
Enzymatic treatment of pectin production side streams—rich in cellulose and hemicellulose—using microbial xylanase to create value-added functional ingredients and biobased products. The optimised process enhances water-holding capacity, swelling behaviour, and solubility, offering a sustainable pathway to valorise agricultural processing residues for food and biomaterial applications.
Overview
Pectin production generates a substantial side stream rich in cellulose (45–50 wt%) and hemicellulose (35–45 wt%) that currently holds limited value. This research applies microbial xylanase enzymes to convert this residue into value-added functional ingredients and biobased products. Building on proven success with xylanase treatment of brewer's spent grain, the approach involves drying, milling, and enzymatic treatment under optimised conditions to improve the material's functional properties, including water-holding capacity, swelling behaviour, and solubility.
The project responds to growing demand for sustainable, bio-based alternatives to fossil-derived ingredients and materials. It offers food and biomaterial industries a cost-effective route to valorise agricultural processing residues, turning a waste stream into a useful resource.
Technical specifications
The process comprises five phases:
- Feedstock characterisation: baseline analysis of cellulose, hemicellulose, moisture, and fibre content to establish composition and assess variability
- Process optimisation: drying and milling of the side stream, followed by microbial xylanase treatment with enzyme dosage, pH, temperature, and reaction time optimised using reaction modelling
- Product characterisation: evaluation of fibre fractions, water-holding capacity, swelling behaviour, and solubility to quantify treatment efficacy
- Valorisation assessment: comparison of treated versus untreated fractions for use in functional ingredients, biomaterials, and other bio-based applications
- Scale-up evaluation: assessment of process scalability, industrial integration, and commercial potential to support future pilot-scale implementation
The laboratory is equipped with advanced analytical platforms, including HPLC and high-resolution mass spectrometry, for product characterisation and fractionation.
Technology readiness level
The xylanase treatment concept has been previously validated on brewer's spent grain, demonstrating the feasibility of enzymatic valorisation of lignocellulosic side streams. The current project is at an early, laboratory-scale research stage, with a defined validation roadmap covering feedstock characterisation, process optimisation, product characterisation, and scale-up assessment. Upon completion, the optimised process will be positioned for pilot-scale validation and industrial integration.
About Auckland University of Technology
A large public university of technology, AUT serves more than 27,000 students across three Auckland campuses and combines a practical, globally connected character with a strong emphasis on real-world impact. Its campuses provide modern labs, studios, and hands-on learning, while AUT Millennium places university researchers alongside sport, health, performance, and community partners in a shared facility. Industry engagement includes internships, work-integrated learning, consulting, and tailored research, with AUT Ventures supporting licensing, partnerships, and startup creation. Research is supported by competitive national funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the Health Research Council, and the Royal Society of New Zealand’s Marsden Fund.
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