Enzymatic synthesis of alkyl β-d-xylosides and oligoxylosides from xylans and from hydrothermally pretreated wheat bran.

Direct and efficient preparation of pentyl and octyl β-d-xylosides and oligoxylosides has been achieved from xylans and n-pentanol or n-octanol in aqueous medium with xylanases. The method has been successfully applied with xylooligosaccharides produced from hydrothermally pretreated wheat bran to produce octyl oligoxylosides. The pentose-based surfactants thus obtained exhibit good surface properties compared to other alkyl glycosides. These molecules represent interesting candidates for the production of new green surfactants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]