Paper Title
Isolation of Novel Mannanolytic D-lactic Acid Bacteria from Palm Kernel Cake
Abstract
Palm kernel cake (PKC) is a potential mannan rich by-product from palm oil processing.Thoughit is currently being
used as a low cost animal feed, ithas potential as a carbon source for bio-products such as industrial enzymes, bio-lactate and
biofuels. Mannanase producing bacteria were isolated from PKC and 54 of them had the ability to hydrolyse mannan in the
preliminary screening. The best mannanase producing strain with the ability to produce lactic acid and utilise various sugar
types was selected (NM009). The isolated strain produced β-mannanase optimally at 37oC, pH 7 within 24-48 hours on locust
bean gum. The isolated strain was also capable of utilising a wide range of sugars to produce D- lactic acid, a high value
industrial product. Strain NM009 was identified by 16S rRNA analysis and identical to Bacillus tequilensis. This isolated
organism is therefore a promising candidate in the production of D- lactic acid from lignocellulosic biomass, which can be
further applied in several biorefinery processes.
Index Terms - Endo-1,4-β-D-mannanase, lactic acid, Palm kernel cake, biorefinery