Enhanced Endoglucanase Production by Bacillus aerius on Mixed Lignocellulosic Substrates

Selected carbon sources including soluble carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), insoluble microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), and single (SS)/mixed lignocellulosic substrates (MS), were evaluated for endoglucanase production by B. aerius S5.2. The lignocellulosic substrates of oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB), oil palm frond (OPF), rice husk (RH), and their mixture (MS) supported growth of the strain better than CMC and MCC. The maximum endoglucanase activity on MS was 7.3-, 2.6-, 1.7-, and 1.2fold higher than those recorded on MCC, CMC, EFB/OPF, and RH, respectively. While the reducing sugar concentration of the CMC medium was comparable to that of the EFB and MS media, wide variability was observed in the reducing sugar concentrations among the lignocellulosic substrates. Extremely low levels of sugar were detected in the MCC medium, reflecting its poor digestibility and hence unsuitability for growth and endoglucanase production. Endoglucanase production was predominantly extracellular when the strain was grown on CMC and MS. After seven days of fermentation, there was an approximately 25% reduction in MS dry weight. These findings show that the use of mixed lignocellulosics could potentially reduce the cost of cellulase production. Certain novel aspects of the cellulase system of B. aerius are reported in this study.