Amylase Production by Solid State Fermentation of Agro-industrial Wastes Using Bacillus species
C. N. Obi *
Department of Microbiology, College of Natural Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P. M. B. 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
O. Okezie
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Calabar, P. M. B. 1115, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
A. N. Ezugwu
Department of Microbiology, College of Natural Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P. M. B. 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study evaluated amylase production by Bacillus species employing the solid state fermentation (SSF) method using five agro-industrial wastes namely corn cobs, potato peel and maize straw, groundnut husk and corn chaff. Five Bacillus species were tested for amylase production abilities and Bacillus subtilis showed the highest amylase production ability after incubation. Corn chaff gave maximum enzyme production (3.25 U/ml) while the least enzyme was recorded on groundnut husk (2.35 U/ml) at 25. Potato peel had maximum enzyme production by Bacillus subtilis (3.05 U/ml) at pH 7.0 while the least enzyme production was from groundnut husk (2.84 U/ml) at pH 4.0.Thus there was an increase in enzyme production with corresponding increase in substrate concentration. The results obtained in this study support the suitability of using agro-industrial wastes as solid state fermentation substrates for high production of amylase. It’s also a means of solving pollution problems thus making solid state fermentation an attractive method.
Keywords: Agro-industrial wastes, amylase, Bacillus species, fermentation, solid state.