PRODUCTION OF ALKALINE PROTEASE BY A NEW ASPERGILLUS-FLAVUS ISOLATE UNDER SOLID-SUBSTRATE FERMENTATION CONDITIONS FOR USE AS A DEPILATION AGENT

The production of alkaline protease by an Aspergillus flavus strain isolated in our laboratory by solid-substrate fermentation for use as a depilation agent and the influence of various factors on enzyme production are reported. The optimum conditions for maximum production were a growth temperature of 32-degrees-C, 63% substrate moisture, and a growth period of 48 h. Enrichment with corn steep liquor or Casitone increased productivity. Scaling-up experiments indicated that flask-scale results could be reproduced at 1 and 30 kg of substrate. The enzyme preparation exhibited maximum activity at both pH 7.5 and pH 9.5. The use of this enzyme as a depilation agent was confirmed by experiments in a tannery.