Medium formulation for alkaline protease production by Bacillus circulans MTCC 7906

The present study involves the screening of various process variables for alkaline protease production and determining optimum levels for the parameters to improvise alkaline protease production using Bacillus circulans MTCC 7906. The screening and optimization of variables was performed using 11 factor (12 run) Plackett-Burman design, out of which six variables were found to be significant in alkaline protease production. The four statistically significant variables having positive effect were casein, agitation, MgSO₄ and Na₂CO₃ and their optimum levels were obtained using Central composite designs (CCD). A 30 trial Central composite designs matrix (CCD) was implemented to screen the optimum combination of the four positively affecting factors for production of alkaline protease. Further, in order to envisage the inducing effect of calcium salt i.e. CaCO₃ was supplemented @ 0.1 to 0.4%. The supplementation of CaCO₃ further led to three-fold increase in protease production.