EVALUATION OF NOVEL IMMOBILIZED LIPASE FROM Staphylococcus argenteus MG2 AND ITS APPLICATION AS DETERGENT ADDITIVE

Abstract

The immobilization of lipase producing alkali tolerant Staphylococcus argenteus MG2 bacterial cell and its lipase enzyme was found to have potential applications in industrial field. The immobilization of bacterial cells was done by using sodium alginate. These cells were used for lipase production. The specific activity of lipase enzyme produced by free cells in fermentation was 18.18µM/min/mg. A quite similar activity of lipase (19.55µM/min/mg) was obtained when bacterial cells were immobilized in 3% sodium alginate beads. It was concluded from the study that immobilized cells are effective as free living bacteria for the lipase production. The immobilized crude enzyme solution with diatomite degraded 0.48mg/L (48%) of oil while immobilized cells degraded 0.44 mg/L  (44%) of oil which indicates that both immobilized enzymes and immobilized cells were degrading oil efficiently and can be reused easily.  It was observed during the study that lipase produced from Staphylococcus argenteus MG2 was found to be effective in the formulations of laundary detergent. During the compatibility of lipase enzyme among various commercial detergent tested, intensified activity of lipase was detected with Rin (106.25%) followed by Nirma (103.12%). The stability of lipase was observed towards anionic as well as non ionic surfactants.  50U of lipase in 0.5% Rin improved the removal of oil from oiled cotton fabric. In summary, this novel and potent lipase producing strain isolated from oil contaminated soil,  Staphylococcus argenteus MG2, holds immense potential for applications in the detergent industry.