Abstract
Amylases are starch-degrading enzymes that hydrolyze the glycosidic bonds in starch molecules to yield valuable products. Microorganisms are frequently used to produce high levels of amylase and are important commercially due to the cost effective production. Microorganisms are capable of utilizing waste materials obtained as a result of various agricultural and industrial processes to produce valuable products. Indigenously isolated Bacillus cereus AS2, a potential amylase producer was investigated for its capability of utilizing different agro-based natural substrates including sugarcane bagasse, wheat-bran, rice bran, maize-flour, rice-flour and potato-peels. Significant amount of amylase was achieved by using such agro industrial wastes as substrates. Maximum amount of enzyme was produced with potato peels as a substrate. Sugarcane bagasse, wheat bran and rice bran also produced significant amount of amylase as compared to commercially available starch. Amylase was also found to strongly adsorb to potato peels i.e., 72.52%, followed by starch, wheat bran and sugarcane bagasse (70.3, 67.9 and 57.1%, respectively). Scanning electron microscopy revealed the surface hydrolysis of different natural substrates by the enzyme in the form of grooves and holes. Thus these agro-wastes could be utilized as an economical and environment friendly alternatives (substrates) for amylase production
