SYNERGISTIC EFFECTS OF AGRO-INDUSTRIAL WASTES ON ALPHA AMYLASE PRODUCTION BY BACILLUS AMYLOLIQUEFACIENS IN SEMI SOLID SUBSTRATE FERMENTATION

Abstract

This study concerns with the combinations of soybean meal (SM), wheat bran (WB) and whey were utilized as the substrates for alpha-amylase production by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens NRRL B-645. As a result of the experiments, the highest a-amylase activity (4257 U/ml) was obtained containing SM 20 g/l, WB 5 g/l, whey 5% (v/v), peptone 1 g/l, yeast extract (YE) 0.5 g/l and (NH4)(2)SO4 1 g/l at 33 degrees C and 150 rpm for 48 h. This innovative process for the alpha-amylase production can be extended to different enzymes using various agro-industrial wastes.