Response surface methodology based optimization of keratinase production from alkali-treated feather waste and horn waste using Bacillus sp. MG-MASC-BT

A native feather-degrading keratinolytic bacterium, Bacillus sp. MG-MASC-BT was isolated from feather dumping soil in Mallasamudram, Tamil Nadu, India and screened for keratinase production using alkali treated horn waste (HW) and feather waste (FW). The study factors influencing keratinase production was optimized by Box–Behnken design (BBD). The maximum enzyme production (1075 U/ml) was observed at pH 7.0, temperature 55 °C and growth period of 60 h. The media supplemented with 6% of HW and FW enhanced keratinase production. Statistics based contour plots were generated to evaluate the changes in the response surface and to understand the relationship between the enzyme yield and the culture conditions.

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