Use of hemicellulases in industries: An overview

Abstract

Hemicellulases from microbial cells have become biotechnologically important since they hydrolyze complex polysaccharides of plant tissues into simple molecules. In paper and pulp industry, role of hemicellulases is well established and recently its applicability in the food and feed technology, coffee extraction, oil drilling and detergent industry also have been found. Hemicellulases are enzymes produced mainly from microorganisms but its production from plants and animals have also been reported. Bacterial hemicellulases are mostly extracellular enzymes that can act in a wide pH and temperature range, though acidic and neutral hemicellulases are more common. In this review we will focus on complex hemicellulases structure and the microbial enzyme complex involved in its complete breakdown, hemicellulases sources, its production conditions and their applications in the commercial sector. However, the major emphasis of the review is on the microbial hemicellulases but reference to plant and animal hemicellulases also has been made to complete the overview.