STATISTICAL MODELLING ON OPTIMIZATION OF KERATINASE PRODUCTION BY AN AUTOCHTHONOUS BACTERIAL ISOLATES: A RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY APPROACH

Abstract

This study focuses on the optimization of keratinase production using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Keratinase is an enzyme that degrades keratin, a fibrous protein present in various natural sources, and has great industrial importance. The objective of this research is to maximize the yield of keratinase production. The production process was optimized employing a central composite design (CCD) encompassing four distinct independent variables: pH, temperature, inoculum volume and agitation speed. The levels of these variables were selected based on preliminary experiments. The response variable, keratinase yield, was quantified in terms of Units per milliliter (U/ml). The experimental design was conducted according to the CCD, subsequently, the data collected were fitted to a quadratic model. The model was then analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) to evaluate the significance of the model terms. The optimized conditions for keratinase production were determined using response surface plots and desirability function. The findings indicated that the optimal conditions for maximum keratinase yield (12.24 U/ml) were pH of 6, temperature of 34.3°C, inoculum volume of 2ml and agitation speed of 250nm. In these specified conditions, the predicted keratinase yield aligned well with the experimental value, indicating the reliability of the model. In conclusion, this study successfully optimized the production of keratinase using RSM. The findings of this research contribute to the development of efficient and cost-effective processes for keratinase production, which can be utilized in various industrial applications.