Production and Characterization of Endoglucanase from Phaeo-lus spadiceus

Enzymes have been used for the production of a large number of industrial products but the higher cost of enzymes minimized their industrial uses. On the other hand, burning of lignocellulosic biomass leads to environmental pollution such as smog production which ultimately causes health problems. The use of lignocellulosic biomass as a cheap substrate for many industrial processes can reduce the environmental pollution and the extraction of enzymes from microbes can resolve the high cost problem of industrial enzymes. This study aimed to produce and characterize the endoglucanase from Phaeolus spadiceus by Solid State Fermentation (SSF) of the sugarcane baggase. The results showed that endoglucanase activity was maximum at 30o C, 70 % moisture level and pH 6.5 after 72 hours (3 days). Further, endoglucanase was characterized for optimum pH, temperature, effect of metal ions and kinetics parameter. Optimum temperature and pH was observed as 30 0C and 6.5 respectively and the values of Vmax and Km were 333.11 µM/mL/min and 24.75 mM respectively. This study concluded that P. spadiceus produces active endoglucanase that can be used for the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials. It can be used as potential microbe for cheap industrial enzymes and to reduce the environmental pollution.