Process Optimization for Lipolytic Bacterial Fermentation: Value Addition to the By-products of Oil Seeds

Background: Lipase enzyme has wide application in industries, particularly food and detergent, but high production cost has always limited its use. Extensive studies are underway on production of high quality and low cost lipase enzyme in large amounts, for which microbial sources have been found to be the best.

Aim: To estimate the potential of oil cakes for bacterial lipase production.

Methodology: By-products of different oil seeds viz. neem, sesame, flax, mustard, coconut, castor, and groundnut were used for the preparation of fermentation media to culture lipolytic Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Optimization of growth condition was done with respect to different parameters such as fermentation time, nitrogen supplements, carbon additives, and lipid sources.

Results: A good lipolytic P. aeruginosa JCM5962 (T) strain was isolated from soil of sugarcane field. Results of the study showed that coconut, sesame, neem, flax and mustard oilcakes induced good lipolytic activity from bacteria. Negligible lipase activity was obtained when organism was cultured in castor and groundnut oilcake medium. 1% ammonium nitrate as an additional nitrogen supplement was found to be ideal parameter for improved production.

Conclusion: According to present work, lipases could be economically produced by P. aeruginosa using low cost oil cakes as potent substrate for fermentation medium.