Optimization of urease production by Bacillus megaterium tara26 isolated from marble quarry sample and its application in reduction of water hardness

Tanvi Patil; Anuradha Pendse; Aruna K

Volume : X, Issue : IV, April - 2020

Optimization of urease production by Bacillus megaterium tara26 isolated from marble quarry sample and its application in reduction of water hardness

Tanvi Patil, Anuradha Pendse, Aruna K

Abstract :

Urease enzyme produced by bacteria, hydrolyses urea in calcium rich soil to ammonia and carbonates thereby increasing the pH resulting in precipitation of CaCO3. The optimum urease producing organism was isolated from marble quarry sample which was identified as Bacillus megaterium tara26 on the basis of morphological, cultural, biochemical and 16s rRNA sequence analysis. The promising isolate was tested for CaCO3 precipitation. The isolate exhibited maximum urease (0.48 U/ml) production in an optimized medium containing urea (0.8 M), Meat extract (0.1%), Xylose (0.2%), pH 7.5 inoculated with 2% (v/v) of culture 0.8 O.D540 nm kept on shaker (125 rpm) at 37°C for 36 hrs. The morphology of precipitated CaCO3 crystals was studied using Scanning Electron Microscope. The potential application of reducing water hardness with the help of urease positive Bacillus megaterium tara26 was also demonstrated and it was observed that it was capable of reducing 60% total hardness (g/L) of water in 14 days.