The aim of this work was to isolate the potent bacterial strains for the production of cellulose enzyme. A total 30 bacterial isolates showed positive results for the cellulase production but highest enzyme activity was shown by isolate JS 14. From the morphological and biochemical reactions, the isolate was identified as Bacillus sp. Cellulase production was studied by this strain using response surface methodology (RSM). A central composite design (CCD) quadratic response surface was applied to explicate the parameters that significantly affected cellulase production in solid substrate fermentation (SSF). The wheat bran concentration and incubation period were significant factors. The process parameters optimized with response surface methodology was wheat bran concentration 400 g/L; pH, 6.5; temperature, 400C and incubation period 5 days when inoculum 10 % (1x107 cells/ ml) was used for cellulase production in SSF. Supplementation of lactose and CMC to the wheat bran medium favored the enzyme formation.
Cellulase; response surface methodology; optimization
