International Journal of Waste Resources

Abstract

Synergistic Effect of Bacterial Consortium for Enhanced Laccase Productionby Submerged Fermentation

Neha Sharma

Industrialisation is rapidly changing the pace of economy by leaps and bounds. At the same time, the effects of pollution are evident in terms of infiltration and accumulation of hazardous substances in environment at large. Rajasthan has witnessed tremendous growth in small scale industries, one of them being the handmade paper industry. Globally, the finished product famously known as “Sanganeri handmade paper” is being appreciated for its ethnic hues and multi-usage. The current practices of paper manufacturing rely on intensive mechanical pulping process utilising an array of raw materials finally leading to enormous volumes of effluent. A combination of mechanical and chemical pulping process has certain identifiable gaps in the form of high production cost, high energy consumption and generation of large volumes of solid waste and effluents rich in high BOD,COD, synthetic dyes, heavy metals, bleaching agents, lignins and diversified range of xenobiotic compounds; thereby posing an environmental threat. Considering this fact, we proposed a pilot study aimed at cleaner and greener production of handmade paper by bioprospecting of indigenous micro flora. For this study, soil samples were collected in accordance with standard procedures from local handmade paper industry located at Sanganer, Jaipur. Preliminarily, the samples were screened for bacterial isolates capable of producing laccase, an important enzyme responsible for delignification). Laccases (EC 1.10.3.2) are copper-containing oxidase enzymes found in many plants, fungi, and microorganisms. Furthermore, synergistic effect of bacterial consortium was explored for enhanced laccase production through submerged fermentation. Laccase activity as monitored in Cell Free Extract (CFE), was found to be maximum of 60.9 U/ml for bacterial consortium and was highly significant (p<0.05) with respect to abiotic control. This pilot study suggested the role of autochthonous micro flora in delignification of raw materials thereby obliterating the energy and cost intensive chemico-mechanical pulping process.