Alkaline Polygalacturonases from Thermotolerant Pectinolytic Bacteria from Diverse Sources

Diverse pectin rich sources like food dumps, food waste waters, spoiled fruits, vegetables and alkaline soils were screened for alkaline bacterial pectinolytic isolates by enrichment culturing and ruthenium red plate assay. Six different bacterial isolates with higher zones of pectin hydrolysis from the source food waste waters were selected and tested for polygalacturonase production at room temperature and at neutral pH. Two isolates as Bacillus sp 2 and Bacillus sp 3 with higher polygalacturonase activity were studied for their response to alkaline, thermophilic production. Polygalacturonase production was highest for Bacillus sp 3 at an alkaline pH of 10.5, a thermophilic temperature of 60°C, an agitation speed of 200 rpm and an inoculum size of 2%. It showed an enzyme production of 890 U/ml. Selected Bacillus sp 3 was both alkaline and thermophilic and had a short fermentation cycle with good polygalacturonase production. Alkaline polygalacturonase could have ample application in food wastes and food waste water treatment. It being highly alkaline it could have ample application in cotton scouring which can be eco friendly.