초록
<P>High production cost and lack of process‐suitable characteristics in available microbial xylanases limit their vast industrial application potential. A new strain of Aspergillus terreus S9 isolated from mushroom compost (Directorate of Mushroom Research, Solan, India), utilized agro‐industrial wastes as substrates for growth, and produced a process‐apt xylanase. The study is the first ever report of a thermostable (60–90°C) and broad range pH stable (6.0–10.0) xylanase from a strain of Aspergillus terreus. Of a total of ten process variables examined based on Plackett‐Burman design, four variables, i.e., wheat bran, incubation time, pH, and CaCl<SUB>2</SUB> were earmarked to have substantial influence on xylanase production. These selected four variables were further optimized using Design of Experiments (DoE) approach (response surface methodology), and xylanase yield was enhanced (1.92‐fold). Saccharification potential of xylanase was assessed using rice straw as substrate, under several sets of combinatorial regimes. Results showed that alkali pretreatment (0.2M KOH) followed by acid pretreatment (1% sulphuric acid) and enzymatic hydrolysis with cellulase and xylanase yielded maximum sugars. Desired industrial traits of A. terreus S9 xylanase reflect its application prospective for valorization of lignocellulosic biomass for production of biofuel‐ethanol/other industrial products. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 37: 1210–1219, 2018</P>