Partial Purification and Biochemical Characterization of Cellulase from Bacillus pumilus ND8 Isolated from Garden Waste

Cellulose, one of the most abundant carbohydrates on Earth, is a promising candidate for the production of second-generation biofuels such as ethanol and various everyday products. This polysaccharide is degraded by the enzyme cellulase, which is usually produced by microorganisms. Microbial cellulases are widely used in various industries (such as textiles, detergents, pharmaceuticals, food and paper). In the present study, cellulase enzyme was partially purified from Bacillus pumilus ND8 strain isolated from garden waste and the pH and temperature values at which the enzyme showed optimum activity were determined. B. pumilus ND8 strain exhibited a cellulase activity of 8.6 U/mL as a result of partial purification and the protein concentration of the enzyme was measured as 6.72 mg/mL. The pH and temperature values at which the partially purified cellulase showed optimum activity were pH 5.5 and 60 °C, respectively. Km and Vmax values of the enzyme were determined as 0.81 mM and 14.2 µmol/min, respectively. In conclusion, cellulase purified from B. pumilus ND8 strain was found to possess unique properties that make it suitable for industrial applications.