Optimization of culture medium in the production of cellulolytic enzyme by Klebsiella variicola isolated from termite gut in Indralaya peatlands, Indonesia.

Bioethanol as an alternative energy resource, has become essential to be developed as an eco-environmentally energy. Enzymatic processes can be used for cellulose biomass to generate bioethanol. Termite is the organism that consumes cellulose as a food source. In this study, cellulolytic Klebsiella variicola isolated from termite gut were optimized to increase the cellulolytic enzyme production. Several factors can affect the growth and production of cellulase enzymes. In this research, optimization of the culture medium was examined using different carbon sources, various concentration of carbon sources, diverse nitrogen sources, various concentration of nitrogen sources, pH, temperature, and agitation. The result showed that medium optimal with higher enzyme activity was obtained in the addition of a carbon source of fructose with concentration of 3.5%; nitrogen source of sodium nitrate with a concentration of 2%; pH of 5; temperature of 45°C; and agitation of 150 rpm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]