Abstract

Production of α-amylase enzyme by Bacillus Lichenoformis using stirred tank fermentor (BIOSTAT – E) was carried out. The strain was obtained from National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India. Corn starch is used as the substrate. The enzyme production was studied by changing the various parameters like temperature, pH, rpm and substrate concentration. The enzyme activity shows maximum at a temperature of 350C – 370C, pH 8 and 300 rpm. The maximum enzyme production was achieved, for 1% concentration of cornstarch at 35.60C and pH 9 using the fermentation medium contains yeast extract and peptone and the enzyme activity was found to be 55.93 DUN/ml. Since the cost of yeast extract and peptone is very high, so the further work was done using some low cost carbon and nitrogen sources like defatted cotton seed, defatted soya flour and mustard seed which are extracted from agricultural byproducts. The enzyme activity for using the low cost medium was found to be nearly triple such as 121.49 DUN/ml. The enzyme production reaches the steady phase at 24 hours. So it is highly recommended that using the low cost medium for the α-amylase enzyme gives better biomass cell concentration and enzyme activity as well.