초록
<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>A novel method utilizing microbial treatment for cleaner production of diosgenin from <I>Dioscorea zingiberensis C.H. Wright</I> (DZW) was presented. A new <I>Bacillus pumilus</I> HR19, which has the great ability to secrete pectinase, was screened and applied in the microbial treatment. Low-pressure steam expansion pretreatment (LSEP) was employed in advance to assist microbial treatment efficiently in releasing saponins, which are the precursors of diosgenin. Compared with the traditional process of acid hydrolysis, this novel process reduced the consumptions of water, acid and organic solvent by more than 92.5%, 97.0%, 97.0%, respectively, while simultaneously increasing the diosgenin yield by 6.21%. In addition, the microbial treatment was more efficient than enzymatic treatment, which arised from that microorganisms could be induced to secrete related enzymes by the compositions of DZW and relieve product inhibition by utilizing enzyme hydrolysates.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> A <I>Bacillus pumilus</I> HR19 with the great ability to secrete pectinase was screened. </LI> <LI> A novel microbial treatment for cleaner production of diosgenin was developed. </LI> <LI> The principle behind the microbial treatment is disclosed. </LI> <LI> The consumptions of water, acid and organic solvent were reduced significantly. </LI> <LI> The diosgenin yield was increased by 6.21%. </LI> </UL> </P>