Shivaji University

About: Shivaji University is a education organization based out in Kolhāpur, Maharashtra, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Thin film & Scanning electron microscope. The organization has 3078 authors who have published 5295 publications receiving 115397 citations.

Optimization of melanin production by Brevundimonas sp. SGJ using response surface methodology

Abstract: Melanins are predominantly indolic polymers which are extensively synthesized in animals, plants and microorganisms. It has wide applications in cosmetics, agriculture and medicine. In the present study, optimization of process parameters influencing melanin production was attempted using the response surface methodology (RSM) from Brevundimonas sp. SGJ. A Plackett–Burman design was used for screening of critical components, while further optimization was carried out using the Box–Behnken design. The optimum conditions observed were pH 5.31, tryptone 1.440 g l−1, l-tyrosine 1.872 g l−1 and CuSO4 0.0366 g l−1. Statistical analysis revealed that the model is significant with model F value 29.03 and R2 value 0.9667. The optimization of process parameters using RSM resulted in a 3.05-fold increase in the yield of melanin. The intermittent addition of l-tyrosine enhanced the melanin yield to 6.811 g l−1. The highest tyrosinase activity observed was 2,471 U mg−1 at the 18th hour of the incubation period with dry cell weight of 0.711 g l−1. The melanin production was confirmed by UV–Visible spectroscopy, FTIR and EPR analysis. Thus, Brevundimonas sp. SGJ has the potential to be a new source for the production of melanin. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13205-012-0082-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Bio-ethanol and bio-butanol production from orange peel waste.

Abstract: Orange (Citrus sinensis) peel waste was used as the substrate for bio-fuels production. It was treated with a steam explosion process to carry out its hydrolysis, and the hydrolysate was utilized as a fermentation medium. The steam explosion method variables of acid concentration, residence time and substrate concentration were optimized. Bio-ethanol and bio-butanol were produced in this study using Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCIM 3495 and Clostridium acetobutylicum NCIM 2877, respectively. The optimized parameters for the steam explosion process were 1% v/v acid concentration, 10 min residence time and 15% w/v substrate concentration. Maximum bio-ethanol yield of 4.1 g/100 mL from orange peel hydrolysate as production media was achieved with the optimized parameters such as 24 hr inoculum incubation time, 20% v/v inoculum size and 48 hr fermentation time. Orange peel waste was used as the substrate for bio-butanol production for the first time and a yield of 19.5 g/L was achieved without addition of nutrit...