Optimization of cellulase production for Bacillus sp. and Pseudomonas sp. soil isolates

This investigation deals with optimizing the cellulase producing bacterial isolates for better enzyme yield. Cellulose degrading bacteria were isolated from garden soil (Aurangabad, MS, India). Amongst 40 different bacterial isolates, two of the bacterial isolates, 2b and 38b, were processed for preliminary identification with morphological, cultural and biochemical characterization. Based on these studies, strain 2b was qualified to belong to Pseudomonas sp. and strain 38b was qualified to belong to Bacillus sp. Optimization of the fermentation medium for maximum cellulase production was carried out for both strains of 2b and 38b. The culture conditions such as: pH, temperature, substrate concentration and incubation time were optimized. The optimum conditions found for cellulase production were 30°C at pH 5. Studies on partially purified cellulase, a high cellulolytic activity was observed in Pseudomonas sp. The Km 22.11 and 14.36 were obtained for cellulase from 2b and 38b, respectively. The Vmax was found to be 1 and 1.121 mmol (min mg)−1 for cellulase from 2b and 38b , respectively. Key words: Bacillus sp., cellulase production, pH, Pseudomonas sp.