Extraction of hemicellulosic materials

Abstract

Hemicelluloses may be extracted by alkaline peroxide treatment without removal of ferulate residues. Hemicelluloses prepared in this way retain their ability to gel. Such gelling hemicelluloses may be extracted with a number of different oxidizing species including hydrogen peroxide anion, hydrogen peroxide radical, hydroxyl radical, superoxide radical and oxide radical. A process has thus been developed for producing a hemicellulose gel that may be carried out at cold temperatures, thus facilitating enzymic co-processing, and that is high yielding and produces a gel that is light in color.

Description

field of invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a process for the production of hemicellulose gels which have various industrial uses, including the food and pharmaceutical industries, as well as various agricultural uses. Background of the invention

[0002] Plant tissue is composed of several different components, including cellulose, hemicellulose, β-glucan, starch, protein, phenolic acids, lignin, waxes, cutin, and suberin. The invention particularly relates to the extraction and processing of hemicellulose.

[0003] The term "hemicellulose" is a term used in the art to encompass non-cellulosic, non-starchy plant polysaccharides. Thus, the term includes pentosans, pectins and gums. Some hemicelluloses, including arabinoxylans and pectins, are suitable as substrates for oxidative gelation ("gelling hemicelluloses"): such hemicelluloses often have phenolic group substituents, which Can be cross-linked with certain oxidizing agents.

[0004] Arabinoxylans and...