ENHANCED PRODUCTION AND PURIFICATION OF KERATINASE FROM PAENIBACILLUS KOREENSIS YC 300

Chicken feather waste is a high-protein byproduct of the poultry industry and a significant environmental concern due to its slow degradation. The current investigation is focused on the production and purification of keratinase from Paenibacillus koreensis YC 300. The maximum keratinase activity was observed after culturing P. koreensis with 1% inoculum for 5 days in the neutral medium (pH 7) at 45 °C. The keratinase was purified with 4% yield, specific activity of 320U/mg of protein, and a molecular mass of 67kDa. Keratinase and CFW degradation production were more efficient in submerged fermentation (SmF) than in the solid-state fermentation (SSF) process. The keratinase from fermentation showed optimal activity at pH 8 and 55°C. The structural changes owing to the degradation of CFW feathers were revealed by Scanning Electron Microscopy analysis. This study demonstrates that P. koreensis can influence CFW management, thereby offering an eco-friendly approach to the remediation of keratin-rich waste.