The activity of β-mannanase in the commercial enzyme Pectinex Ultra SP-L and its use for the production of mannooligosaccharides from copra meal

The beta-mannanase present in the commercial enzyme Pectinex Ultra SP-L was characterised and tested for its ability to hydrolyse copra meal for the production of mannooligosaccharides (MOS). The optimum pH and temperature for the mannanase activity were 4.0 and 65 degrees C, respectively. The relative activity of the beta-mannanase of the commercial preparation Pectinex Ultra SP-L on copra meal was 49% when compared to the complete hydrolysis of locust bean gum, indicating its potential to hydrolyse the agricultural waste. The maximum MOS concentration of 25 g L-1 was obtained from the hydrolysis of 300 g L-1 copra meal with Pectinex Ultra SP-L at 55 degrees C for 2 h. The hydrolysate consisted of similar to 45% oligosaccha-rides and the rest were monosaccharides. Mannobiose and mannotriose were the only oligosaccharides present in the mixture, with mannobiose accounting for 90%. A simple and efficient method to obtain oligosaccharides from copra meal using a commercial pectinolytic enzyme is presented.