Screening and identification of bacteria producing lignin degrading enzymes

Lignin is the most abundant renewable biopolymer material on earth. Millions of tons of lignin and lignin-related compounds are produced as waste effluent from the pulping and paper industries. Physico-chemical methods used to treat lignin wastewater result from the paper mill manufacturing were not practically effective and expensive. Biological treatment was found to be the alternative method using bacteria as a lignin degrader. The aim of this project is to screen and identify potential microorganisms producing lignin-degrading enzyme as well as the enzyme activity assay. Four strain of bacteria were chosen as they were able to grow on selective agar medium containing lignin as a carbon source and clear zone formation. The four strain of bacteria was then identified as a Bacillus cereus (GU551935), Bacillus sp. (JX847615). Berta Imbellis (AF519651) and Bacillus cereus (JX84612). These bacteria were subjected to cultivate in a basal medium to analyse the lignolytic enzyme produced. Bacillus sp. (JX847615) were found to produce a higher amount of enzyme activity of LiP (1.383 x 10‐⁵U/m1) followed by MnP (9.17 x 10‐⁷ Wm) when grown in basal medium.