Abstract

The production and characterization of protease and pectinase from bacteria isolated from market solid waste and the bio-scouring of cotton using the enzymes was investigated. Using morphological, cultural and biochemical properties, the isolate was confirmed as bacillus subtilis. Protease and pectinase were produced by bacillus subtilis using submerged fermentation in gelatin broth and pectin broth respectively. The enzymes were purified using ammonium sulphate precipitation, dialysis and ion-exchange chromatography. Glucose as a carbon source and peptone as a nitrogen source gave optimum activity for both enzymes. Purified protease exhibited maximum activity of 8.72u/ml at 40^oc while pectinase exhibited maximum activity of 8.98u/ml at 50^oc. Application of the enzymes on bio-scouring of cotton fabrics was tested. Pectinase was more effective than protease under optimized conditions. Optimum scouring temperature for both enzymes was between 40^oc and 50^oc with pectinase bio-scoured fabric showing 15.5% weight loss while protease bio-scoured fabric had 14.3% weight loss. Optimum ph for pectinase scouring was ph 9 with 14.8% weight loss in fabric while optimum ph for protease scoured fabric was ph 7 with 12.3% weight loss in fabric. After 120 minutes of bio-scouring, 15.4% weight loss was recorded for pectinase treated fabric while protease treated fabric showed 10.9% weight loss. The application of protease and pectinase for the scouring of cotton fabric revealed that they can be used as bio-scouring agents for the treatment of textile materials.