Abstract

Transport packaging factories generate a large amount of wastewater that contains residuals of starch glue. These residuals could be used as substrates for microorganism growth and enzyme production. In this study, beta-amylase production using a new strain Paenibacillus chitinolyticus CKS1 was optimized using wastewater from a Serbian transport packaging factory. The optimization of beta-amylase production was carried out using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). A Central Composite Design under the RSM with four interacting parameters (incubation time, inoculum concentration, casein hydrolysate concentration and yeast extract concentration) was employed to identify the optimal conditions for maximum beta-amylase activity (334.20 U L-1) as 62 h of incubation with 2.40% inoculum, 2.02 g L-1 casein hydrolysate and 3.98 g L-1 yeast extract. High performance liquid chromatography showed that the P. chitinolyticus CKS1 strain hydrolyzed starch to form maltose as a major product. Due to the application of wastewater as an inexpensive material for enzyme and maltose production it may be considered that the economic and eco-friendly aspects of this method are very promising.