Optimization of Production of Alkaline Protease from Bacillus Megaterium NCIM-2087 through Solid State Fermentation

Production of extracellular alkaline protease under Solid State Fermentation (SSF) by Bacillus megaterium NCIM 2087 was tested on substrates of different agrowastes, including soy cake, wheat bran, rice bran and green gram husk, with a pH ranging from 8-11, particle size above 7 m, inoculum levels 1 mL to 5 mL/10 g of substrate, incubation time from 12 to 96 h and relative moisture levels from 60% to 140%. The peak alkaline protease produced by B. megatarium NCIM-2087 was observed in the soy cake substrate (5961.0 U/g), at pH 9, particle size 4-18 m, 3 mL/10 g of substrate inoculum level, 60 h of incubation time and at 100% relative moisture level.