*Xylan-Based Hydrogels: A Polymeric Carrier for Sustained and Targeted Delivery of Drugs DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109201*

The holocellulose was treated with 10% (2.5 N) NaOH solution with a solid to liquid ratio of 1:20 for 6 hours at room temperature. The NaOH treatment to holocellulose dissolves the xylan-rich hemicelluloses properly. The dissolved hemicellulose was filtered through Whatman No. 44 filter paper to separate it in the form of extract. The extract was further neutralized with acetic acid to get a precipitate of xylan-rich hemicellulose. The precipitate was separated by settling down after ethanol addition. Subsequently, several washing steps were performed using ethanol and filtered and dried at 60°C in vacuum oven to get xylanrich hemicellulose. The percentage yield was calculated on oven dried basis of extractivefree raw materials. The schematic diagram of steps involved in preparation of xylan-rich hemicelluloses is represented (**Figures 2** and **3**).
