Screening of variables in xylanase recovery using BDBAC reversed micelles

Xylanase recovery by reversed micelles using cationic surfactant (N-benzyl- N-dodecyl-N-bis(2-hydroxyethhyl)ammonium chloride) BDBAC was evaluated under different experimental conditions. A full factorial design with center point was employed to verify the influence of different factors on the recovery. A mathematical model was found to represent the xylanase yield (Y) as a function of BDBAC and hexanol: Y = 4.32 + 5.1B + 2.64D + 0.83B2 + 1.46D2, where B = BDBAC and D = hexanol. The highest xylanase recovery (27%), indicated by the model was attained at pH = 8.1, BDBAC = 0.38 M and hexanol = 8.6%. Under these conditions, and to test the model, a new xylanase extraction was performed in laboratory, giving 29.4% recovery yield, this value was similar to that predicted by the model.