Alkaline hydrogen peroxide extraction of wheat bran non-starch polysaccharides

An extraction method based on the use of dilute alkaline solutions of hydrogen peroxide removing the lignin present in lignocellulosic materials (Gould. J. M. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 26 (1984) 46-52), was studied for the extraction of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) from wheat bran. The influence of extraction temperature and time, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration and percentage of bran in the alkaline hydrogen peroxide solution on the extraction yields of non-cellulosic glucose, arabinose and xylose residues were investigated. Extraction for 4h at 60 degreesC with an alkaline (pH 11.5) H2O2-solution (2.0%) and 2.0% wheat bran in the extractant yielded and alkaline extract containing 77% of the wheat bran total arabinose content, 65% of the total xylose content and 86% of the total non-cellulosic glucose content. (C) 2001 Academic Press.