Effect of carbon source on lipase production by Aeromonas sp. isolated from dairy effluent

Background Lipids are one of the major pollutants in domestic and industrial effluents. The use of lipases in the treatment of these effluents as well as in the bioremediation of contaminated environments represents an environmentally safe alternative to chemical methods [1]. Lipases (EC 3.1.1.3) are carboxylesterases that catalyze synthesis and hydrolysis of long-chain acylglycerols (>10 carbons) and have great potential for industrial and biotechnological applications. Microorganisms are the major source for lipases and have advantages such as ease production and diversified enzymatic properties [2]. Effluents containing high concentrations of lipids represent a good source for the isolation of lipase producing microorganisms and dairy industries are responsible for production of large quantities of this of this kind of effluent [3]. In a previous study two lipase producing microorganisms were isolated from dairy effluents. This report presents the results of lipase production by these microorganisms in different carbon sources.