Abstract

The present study describes the screening of two agro-industrial byproducts for enhanced production of alkaline protease by Bacillus polymyxa using solid state fermentation technique. The agro-industrial byproducts were tested which include soybean and rice bran for protease production. Comparative studies on citrate buffer, borate buffer and water for production and extraction of the enzyme were also investigated. Of these byproducts tested, soybean had higher activity at various parameters (pH, temperature, metals, substrate concentration and enzyme concentration). The effect of borate buffer on the crude protease activity was highest at pH 12, 1002.71; 60°C, 1593.56; Mn2+, 1575.07; 2ml substrate concentration, 1508.17 and 2mI enzyme concentration, 1744.04 respectively compared to the effect of citrate buffer and water used during die investigation.