Recovery of xylan from <i>Acacia mearnsii</i> using ultrasound‐assisted alkaline extraction

Novel and effective biorefinery methods are necessary to fractionate lignocellulosic biomass into separate components for the valorization of these value-added products. For example, xylan fraction can be used as an adhesive, a thickener, additive plastics, emulsifier, drug carrier, precursor prebiotic xylooligosaccharides. Unfortunately, conventional extraction procedures require lengthy periods characterized by poor product purity yields. In this study, non-conventional ultrasound-assisted alkaline method was developed from Acacia mearnsii, industrially relevant hardwood in South Africa. The effect additional ultrasonication step on evaluated. After this, basic structural analysis conducted both acacia extracts commercially available beech-derived xylan. Composition data showed acacia-derived glucuronoxylan have Ara:GluA:Xyl ratio 0.5:1:5, while that beechwood had 0:1:4 ratio. Ultrasound-assisted also gave better yield (24%) than (21%) quicker period 1 h versus 4 h. Finally, exhibited antioxidant potential, with EC50 value ≈1.5 mg/mL against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH). conclusion, successfully employed extract high-purity, bioactive acacia. purified is suitable replacement birchwood glucuronoxylan, which no longer available, or expensive substitute numerous applications.