Enhanced production of cellulase from tapioca stem using response surface methodology

Abstract

Medium composition for production of cellulase by Cellulomonas fimi NCIM-5015 from tapioca stem as a substrate in submerged fermentation was optimized using a stepwise strategy. Plackett-Burman design was employed for screening, the most significant nutrient components which influence the cellulose production from 12 nutrient components. Results revealed that peptone, yeast extract, KH2PO4 and CaCl2.2H2O, have significant effects on cellulase production, with confidence levels above 95%. Central composite design (CCD) was used to determine the optimal concentrations of these four components and the experimental results were fitted with a second-order polynomial model at 95% level (P < 0.05). The optimum conditions are peptone (0.957 g/L), yeast extract (2.5 g/L), KH2PO4 (3.09 g/L), and CaCl2^.2H2O (0.409 g/L). Under these conditions, the production of cellulase was found to be 0.58 IU/ml.