Response Surface Methodology as a StatisticalTool for Fermentation Media Optimization inLipase Production by Palm Oil Mill Effluent(POME) Isolate Emericella Nidulans NFCCI 3643

Abstract

Among enzymes, lipases have been attracting biotechnologists owing to their numerous applications in various industries like – food, pharmaceutical, detergent, dairy, cosmetic, textiles etc. In the present study, optimization of lipase production by Emericella nidulans NFCCI 3643 was carried out using statistical experimental designs. Initially, a Plackett-Burmen design (PBD) was employed to find out the significant process variables. The results indicated that olive oil, ammonium sulphate, incubation period, temperature and pH had significant influences on lipase production. The optimal conditions were further obtained by subsequently using Box-Behnken design under response surface methodology (RSM). The interactive effects of 5 variables on lipase production were studied in 46 experimental runs and the optimum concentrations of these parameters were found to be olive oil, 18.98 mL/L; ammonium sulphate, 14.38 g/L; incubation time, 3.66 days; temperature, 25.71 °C and pH, 5.17. Under these optimal conditions the lipase activity was found to be 409.723 U/ml, which is a 2.76-fold increase in comparison with that obtained by optimization using traditional OFAT (one factor at a time) method.