Effect of Lipase in Biodegrading Polybutylene Succinate

In this present investigation the microorganism Pseudomonas flourescens and Bacillus subtilis capable of producing Lipase and degrading poly Butylene Succinate was isolated and screened using PBS enrichment medium and Tributyrin medium. Further the enzyme Lipase was isolated and purified using Ammonium Sulphate precipitation, DEAE cellulose and Sephadex column chromatography. The activity of the enzyme was found to be increasing at each step of purification. Optimum pH and temperature of the enzyme was recorded as 7 and 37°C. A weight loss of 30%, 35% and 50% was seen in case of PBS films when treated with lipase (Pseudomonas flourescens and Bacillus subtilis, commercial) which reflects their specificity towards their substrate. The extent of degradation of PBS was further confirmed by SEM analysis where different sized eruptions were seen in PBS films when inoculated with Lipase from different sources suggesting that Lipase has the specificity towards the substrate PBS in biodegradation.