OPTIMIZATION OF INULINASE PRODUCTION USING COPRA WASTE BY Kluyveromyces marxianus var. marxianus

Kluyveromyces marxianus var. marxianus was found to secrete a large amount of extracellular inulinase in to the medium. The optimization of inulinase production using copra waste as a carbon source was performed with statistical methodology based on experimental designs. The screening of eighteen nutrients for their influence on inulinase production was achieved using a Plackett– –Burman design. Corn steep liquor, (NH4)2SO4, ZnSO4⋅7H2O, K2HPO4 and urea were selected based on their positive influence on inulinase production. The selected components were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). The optimum conditions are: corn steep liquor – 0.0560 (g/gds), (NH4)2SO4 – 0.0084 (g/gds), ZnSO4⋅7H2O – 0.0254 (g/gds), K2HPO4 – 0.0037 (g/gds) and urea 0.02147 (g/gds). These conditions were validated experimentally which revealed an enhanced inulinase yield of 372 U/gds.