Protease Production Capabilities of Micrococcus Luteus and Bacillus Species Isolated from Abattoir Environment

The study investigated the optimum conditions of temperature, pH, inoculum size and time of incubation on bacterial protease production. Protease producing bacterial species were isolated from abattoir soil and identified as Micrococcus luteus and Bacillus species. The optimum conditions observed for protease production was 37℃ at pH 7, with 1% inoculum in the medium for 24 h of incubation in Micrococcus luteus while in Bacillus species, the optimum conditions observed was 47℃ at pH 9, with 2% inoculum concentration in the medium for 96 h of incubation. Generally, temperature and pH had more effect on the protease activity of Micrococcus luteus while inoculum concentration and time of incubation had more effect on the protease activity of Bacillus species. The study gave evidence that these bacterial isolates could be potentially applied in biotechnological processes.