Exoproduction and characterization of a detergent-stable alkaline keratinase from Arthrobacter sp. KFS-1.

Arthrobacter sp. KFS-1 previously isolated from a dump site was used to produce keratinase in basal medium. The physico-chemical conditions were optimized to enhance the keratinase production, and biochemical properties of the enzyme were also evaluated. Arthrobacter sp. KFS-1 optimally produced keratinase in a basal medium that contained 1.0 g/L xylose, 2.5-5.0 g/L chicken feather; with initial pH, incubation temperature and agitation speed of 6.0, 30 °C and 200 rpm, respectively. Maximum keratinase activity of 1559.09 ± 29.57 U/mL was achieved at 96 h of fermentation; while optimal thiol concentration of 665.13 ± 38.73 µM was obtained at 144 h. Furthermore, the enzyme was optimally active at pH 8.0 and 60 °C. The enzyme activity was inhibited by ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline, but not affected by phenylmethylsulfonyl floride. In addition, the crude enzyme retained 55%, 63%, 80%, 81% and 90% of the original activity after respective pretreatment with some commercial detergents (Maq, Omo, Surf, Sunlight and Ariel). Moreso, the enzyme showed remarkable stability in the presence of reducing agents, surfactants, and organic solvents. Arthrobacter sp. KFS-1 significantly produced keratinase which exhibited excellent stability in presence of chemical agents and commercial laundry detergents; hence, suggesting its industrial application potentials especially in detergent formulation.

A Marine Bacterium, Bacillus sp. Isolated from the Sediment Samples of Algoa Bay in South Africa Produces a Polysaccharide-Bioflocculant.

Bioflocculants mediate the removal of suspended particles from solution and the efficiency of flocculation is dependent on the characteristics of the flocculant. Apart from the merits of biodegradability and harmlessness, bioflocculants could be viable as industrially relevant flocculants as they are a renewable resource. Additionally, the shortcomings associated with the conventionally used flocculants such as aluminium salts and acrylamide polymers, which include dementia and cancer, highlight more the need to use bioflocculants as an alternative. Consequently, in this study a marine sediment bacterial isolate was screened for bioflocculant production. Basic local alignment search tools (BLAST) analysis of 16S ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (rDNA) sequence of the bacterial isolate showed 98% similarity to Bacillus thuringiensis MR-R1. The bacteria produced bioflocculant optimally with inoculum size (4% v/v) (85%), glucose (85.65%) and mixed nitrogen source (urea, ammonium chloride and yeast extract) (75.9%) and the divalent cation (Ca2+) (62.3%). Under optimal conditions, a maximum flocculating activity of over 85% was attained after 60 h of cultivation. The purified polysaccharide-bioflocculant flocculated optimally at alkaline pH 12 (81%), in the presence of Mn2+ (73%) and Ca2+ (72.8%). The high flocculation activity shown indicates that the bioflocculant may contend favourably as an alternative to the conventionally used flocculants in water treatment.