Xylo-Oligosaccharide

The research, development and commercialization of functional
oligosaccharides have developed rapidly in recent years. They
are extensively used as bifidobacterium growth factors in the
food and feed production. More than a dozen varieties of
functional oligosaccharides have already been commercialized.
Xylo-oligosaccharide as a new comer has attracted general
interest in circles of science, technology and industry both at
home and abroad due to its special functionality and bright
prospect.
   Only a few countries in the world have achieved the commercial
production of xylo-oligosaccharide today. Japan is the earliest
and also the largest producer in the world, and also has the most
extensive application of xylo-oligosaccharide. Products being
sold in the Japanese market are mainly produced by Suntory
through the enzymatic process. Varieties include
xylo-oligosaccharide 70 (liquid), xylo-oligosaccharide 35
(powder), xylo-oligosaccharide 20 (powder) and tablet (the
content of xylo-oligosaccharide being 25%). They have already
been used in beverages, condiment vinegars and health-care
products.
   In recent years the European Communities have launched a
xylo-oligosaccharide research and development program (1998 -
2001). It was proposed that xylan should be extracted from
agricultural and forest refuses such as corncob, bran, beer
grain and eucalyptus to produce xylo-oligosaccharide and
xylosic alcohol and the research on their applications in
pharmaceutical and food sectors should be conducted.
   The research, development and production of
xylo-oligosaccharide in China are still at the initial stage.
Shandong Longlive Bio-technology Co., Ltd. has developed
product series including 70% xylooligosaccharide syrup, 35%
xylooligosaccharide powder and 20% xylooligosaccharide powder.
   Xylo-oligosaccharide still has a supply deficit in the
international market. Production technology and industrial
distribution are main constraints for the development of the
xylo-oligosaccharide production. China owns great quantities of
production resources. The Chinese Government has paid great
attention to the investment in the research of
xylo-oligosaccharide production technologies. A special item
was included in the research projects during the Tenth Five-year
Plan period (2001-2005). Companies undertaking the assignment
have already achieved advances in bioconversion enzyme
technology, product separation/refining process and clean
production. Problems such as production cost, product quality
and product standard have to be solved before the
commercialization of xylo-oligosaccharide.