16 research outputs found
Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons by Lysinibacillus fusiformis BTTS10
There exists a need for potential microorganism that could
facilitate effective bioremediation of crude oil pollutants in the
environment. Hence it was desired to isolate a potential bacterium from
marine sediment, which often experiences oil pollution and develop a
bioprocess for crude oil biodegradation. In the present study the sediment
deposits in the beach of Munakkal, Trichur dist, Kerala, collected
immediately after the major event Tsunami in 2004 was collected and
analyzed by enrichment culture technique towards isolation of potential
strains that could degrade crude oil and its fractions. From the results
obtained it was found that the sediment deposits harbor several bacteria
with potential for degrading hydrocarbons. However, among the strains
obtained, isolate no. BTTS 10 showed capabilities for utilizing both
alkanes and aromatic hydrocarbons and hence the same was selected for
further studies.Cochin
University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Biotechnology, Cochin
University of Science and Technolog
Studies on Halocin production by haloarchaea Natrinema sp. BTSH10
This study on halocin production by Natrinema sp.BTSH10 indicate the
prospects for intensive research which could lead to discovery of novel halocins
which could have far reaching impact in biopharmaceutical industry particularly as
anticancer drug. It is also anticipated that further research on this halocin could lead
towards development of novel anticancer drug and new era in pharmaceutical
biotechnology. There is no doubt that haloarchaea from saltern ponds have immense
potential to return novel and valuable drugs and bioactive substances.Cochin University of Science and TechnologyMicrobial Technology Laboratory
Department of Biotechnology
Cochin University of Science and Technolog
Extracellular beta-Glucosidase production by marine Aspergillus sydowii BTMFS 55
The beta-glucosidase enzyme purified from the marine fungus, Aspergillus
sydowii BTMFS 55 showed a good yield of enzyme production under solid state
fermentation. The statistical optimization of the media components revealed that
moisture content, concentration of peptone and inoculum are the major parameters
which supported the maximal enzyme production. The purified enzyme showed low
pH activity and stability, glucose tolerance and activation by ethanol. It could produce
ethanol from wheat bran and rice straw by simultaneous saccharification and
fermentation with yeast.The glucosidase purified from Aspergillus sydowii BTMFS 55
shows great potential for several biotechnological applications such as the production
of bio-ethanol from agricultural biomass and improvement in the aromatic character
of wines and fruit juices through the hydrolysis of flavour glucosidic precursors.
There is immense scope for the application of this marine fungus in the biofuel
production besides in other industries provided further studies are pursued in
exploiting this enzyme and the organism particularly scale up studies with respect to
application. There is also ample scope for cloning of the gene encoding beta-glucosidase
in domesticated hosts such as Pichia pastoris or S. cerevisiae that can produce ethanol
directly from cellulosic biomass.Department of Biotechnology,
Cochin University of Science and Technolog
Molecular cloning of alkaline protease gene from marine fungus Engyodontium album
Department of Biotechnology,
Cochin University of Science and Technolog
Microbial Treatment Of Rubber Latex Centrifugation Effluent
Many of the existing methods for the treatment of rubber latex centrifugation
eflluent are not only unsatisfactory in their efliciency to effect near perfect treatment in
bringing down the COD to optimum level, but also time consuming and need a large
landspace. As the rate of effluent generation is extremely high (20 litres for kilogram of
rubber) there is a need for development of efficient system,capable of rapid reduction of
COD and BOD.
Though the organic load of the rubber efiluent is very high, it does not contain
much processed chemicals and therefore it can be considered as a ‘biological eflluent’.
Further, the ratio of the Chemical Oxygen Demand to Biological Oxygen Demand
(COD/BOD) of this effluent remain almost as a constant value. According to
Montgomery (1967), estimation of BOD is not ideally suited for studies on process
design, treatability, control of treatment plants, setting standards for treated effluents and
assessing the effect of polluting discharges on the oxygen resources of receiving waters.
Hence in the present study COD was measured to determine the impact of treatment
system on the effluent.
In the present study, attempts were made to evaluate the efficiencies of certain
methods such as packed bed reactor using immobilized microbial cells, rotating biological
contactor (RBC) and activated sludge process, for rapid and efficient treatment of
natural rubber latex centrifugation effluent. In addition, studies were also carn'ed out to develop a suitable bioprocess for the coagulation of skim latex, as an alternative to the
presently used acid coagulation process towards reducing the pollution load, besides
recovering quality rubberCochin
University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Biotechnology, Cochin
University of Science and Technolog
Studies on immobilization of Bacteria
Cell immnhilizatinn technology in a rapidly expanding arna in the endeavour of microbial fnrmentatiwn.During the lnmt 15 years anveral prnceafinn have been developed and more are in developmental atage of approaching commercial utilizatinn.In the present programme it was planned to develop an optimized process for the innobilization of alpha amylase producing Bacillus polymyxa (CBTB 25) an isolate obtained from Cochin University campus primarily for the production of alpha-amylase.Optimal concentration of support material that attributaa stability and maximal activity to the immobilized cell beads was determined using different concentrations of sodium aliginate as support and estimation of amylase production.An overeall assessment of the data obtained for the various studies conducted denotes that immobilized cells synthesize alpha-amylase at comparable rates with free cells and produce reducing sugara at a higher level than free cells.Results indicated that both phosphate and citrate buffers could be used for disrupting the immobilized beads since they enforced maximal release of cells through leaching from the beads within one hour.On comparative analysis it was observed that immobilized cells could synthesize alpha amylase at similar levels with free cells of B.polymyxa.On Co-immobilization of B.Polymyxa with S.cerevisiae,the co-immobilizate beads could effeciently convert starch directly to ethanol with a yield of 14.8% at 1 : 2 ratio.Cochin University of Science and TechnologyDivision of Botechnology, Department of science, Cochin University of Science and Technolog
Microbial enzyme production utilizing banana wastes
A critical survey of the fruits and vegetable
markets of the towns and cities in South India reveals that
banana fruit stalk wastes share a dominant proportion among
the solid wastes generated. In the light of the review of
literature presented in the foregoing section, few reports are
available on the utilisation of banana waste for the
production of alcoholic beverages, biogas, and single cell
protein. However, it is not yet tried for the production of
industrial enzymes. Moreover, preliminary fermentation
studies conducted under uncontrolled conditions revealed that
banana fruit stalk could be aptly utilised as solid substrate?
for the industrial production of microbial amylases and
cellulases at a cheaper cost. Therefore, it was proposed to conduct a detailed study towards the development of a suitable fermentation process for the production of industrial enzymes using banana fruit stalk wastes, which is rich in carbohydrate, as solid substrate, employing bacteria, under SSF.Cochin University of
Science & Technology,Department of Biotechnology, Cochin University of
Science & Technology
Lipase production by marine fungus Aspergillus Awamori Nagazawa
The present study indicate the scope for the
utilization of the marine fungus Aspergillus awamori Nagazawa BTMFW 032 for
extracellular lipase production employing submerged fermentation. To the best of
our knowledge this is the first report on lipase production by a marine fungus
employing statistical modeling towards industrial production. The characterization
of purified lipase produced by A. awamori showed stability in organic solvents,
oxidizing agent and reducing agents, I,3-regiospecificity and hydrolytic activity.
These properties make this lipase an ideal candidate for biocatalysis in organic
media for the production of novel compounds such as biodiesel and sugar fatty
esters. 91.4 % reduction in oil and grease content in ayurvedic oil by the treatment
of A. awamori lipase indicates that there is a scope for this enzyme in the treatment
of oil effluents and bioremediation. There is ample scope for further research on
the biochemistry of the enzyme, structure elucidation and enzyme engineering
towards a wide range of further applications, besides enriching scientific
knowledge on marine enzymes.Department of Biotechnology,
Cochin University of Science and Technolog
Pigment production by marine Serratia sp. BTWJ8
The marine microorganisms are yet to be exploited as a source of natural
pigments for probable utilization in various industries. Hence, in this study focus
was made only on pigment producing marine bacteria for pigment production and
evaluation of the same for some application besides development of an ideal
bioprocess for subsequent indigenous production of the pigment using the same
organism towards ultimate industrial application.Department of Biotechnology, Cochin
University of Science and Technolog
L-Glutaminase production by marine vibrio costicola under solid state fermentation
Use of inert supports have been recommended for SSF in on ar to
overcome its inherent problems and efforts are being made to search
for newer and better materials to act as inert solid supports lidoo
et al, 1982; Zhu et al, 1994).In the present study an attempt is made to produce L-glutaminase, which is industrially and therapeutically impo rtant, from marine bacteria under solid state fermentation using natura.l.
inert and mixed substrates with a view to develop an ideal bioprocess
for its large scale production.Cochin University of Science and TechnologyMicrobial Technology Unit, Department of Biotechnology, Cochin University of Science and Technolog