The present study reveals the isolation of amylolytic bacteria from the industrial contaminated soils collected around Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, India. A bacterium belonging to genus Bacillus was isolated by serial dilution method. The bacterium was designated as Bacillus sp. strain RU1. Compared to others, strain RU1 has shown maximum amylase activity with starch as substrate. Various parameters have been optimized for enhancing the production of amylase which includes carbon sources, nitrogen sources, substrate concentration and inoculum size. The results have showed fructose and ammonium carbonate are the best carbon and nitrogen sources for amylase production. Crude amylase enzyme studies revealed the optimum temperature and pH as 45oC and 10.0. Therefore, the amylase enzyme isolated in the present study will find applications in the industry as the enzyme is active at moderately thermophilic and at alkaline pH.
Key words: Bacillus sp., amylase, characterization, optimization, temperature, pH.
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