Utilization of watermelon peels as a substrate for alpha amylase production by bacillus subtilis in solid state fermentation
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Date
2017-06
Authors
Nabilah Saafie
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Abstract
The major aim of this study was to study the capability of watermelon peels (WP) as substrate in solid state fermentation (SSF) for production of alpha amylase enzyme by B. subtilis. The effects of a few parameters such as fermentation period, pH, substrate concentration and moisture content were investigated during the enzyme production. This experiment was conducted by using one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) method to optimize each parameter independently of the others. The best productivity was observed with WP which about 370.29 U/g compared to 267.38 U/g of alpha amylase enzyme produced by using jackfruit seeds (JS). Optimal conditions for the production of alpha amylase by the B. subtilis on WP were determined as fermentation period of 48 hours, pH 6, substrate concentration of 10 g and moisture content of 80% w/v. Under these optimized conditions, the maximum enzyme production was 1685.85 U/g. Usability of WP as substrate in microbial culture media for the production of alpha amylase was examined for the first time in the present study and it was achievable.