Spray-drying of xylanase from thermophilic fungus Melanocarpus albomyces– Effect of carriers and binders on enzyme stability

A spray-dried powder formulation obtained from the fermentation broth of the fungus has been developed. The effect of different additives (carriers and binders) on thermal deactivation of xylanase has been evaluated at 60°C. Addition of carriers and binders improves half-life by 6.6-7.0 folds, whereas the synergistic effect of carrier and binder enhances the half-life by 27.5 folds. Under the optimized conditions of the spray-drying process, retention of 99.4% specific activity is obtained with the maximum powder recovery of 62.4% at 140/65.2°C inlet/outlet temperature. The final spray dried powder produced is found to be brownish, free flowing and non-hygroscopic. The shelf-life of spray-dried powder is 202 days at 30°C, making it industrially useful product.