Production of extracellular alkaline lipase by a new thermophilic Bacillus sp.

A thermophilic soil isolate - Bacillus sp. RS-12, grew optimally at 50 degrees C and not below 40 degrees C. Production of an extracellular lipase by this organism was substantially enhanced when the type and concentration of carbon and nitrogen sources and initial pH of the culture medium were consecutively optimized. The lipase production was found to be growth-associated with maximum secretion in the late exponential growth phase, i.e. 15 h of incubation. The enzyme activity as high as 0.98 nkat/mL was obtained under optimum conditions. Tween 80 (0.5 %) and yeast extract (0.5 %) were found to be the best carbon and nitrogen sources inducing maximum enzyme yield with initial pH 8.0 at 50 OC. The kinetic characteristics of the crude lipase indicated the highest activity at 50-55 degrees C and pH 8.0. It had a half life of 60, 18 and 15 min at 65, 70 and 75 degrees C, respectively.