Abstract

Keratinase producing bacterium Bacillus megaterium RS1 was obtained from feather dumping site of Rajapalayam. The optimal level of the key variables (starch, feather meal, calcium chloride) was used to determine the effect of their interactions on keratinase production using the statistical tool [(Central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM)]. The second-order quadratic model with the optimum conditions [(starch (1%); feather meal (3%) and calcium chloride (0.02%)] was used. The nearness of the coefficient of determination (R² = 1.0000) to 1 ensures the satisfactory adjustment of the quadratic model to the experimental data. The maximum keratinase production was 142.9 U/ml.

Key words: Keratinase, Central composite design (CCD), response surface methodology (RSM), Bacillus megaterium RS1 starch, feather meal, calcium chloride.