Thermostable and alkali-tolerant xylanases for industrial applications

The assortment of thermostable and alkali-tolerant xylanase enzymes has been progressively increasing for use in industrial applications, mainly as replacements for thermolabile enzymes. In the area of enzymatic bleach boosting of wood pulps, a thermostable xylanase would be advantageous over a thermolabile xylanase, due to the high temperature of the incoming pulp. Thus far, the alkaline or alkali-tolerant, themostable and cellulase free xylanase producers have mainly been found in fungi, bacteria and actinomycetes and yeast. Xylanase enzymes have been produced in solid state fermentation and submerged fermentation. This review describes the imperative of thermostable and alkali-tolerant xylanase enzymes in miscellany of biotechnology industries.