Vol. 2, Issue 11, Part F (2016)

Abstract
Keratinase producing bacterial strains were isolated from soil and feather samples from chicken feather dump site and identified by physical and biochemical methods. Keratinase producing potential of keratinolytic strains (Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis) were checked at various physical and chemical parameters. The maximum Enzyme activity was showed by Bacillus subtilis then compared with Bacillus licheniformis in all the optimization studies include, pH (32.2 ± 1.1 at pH 8), Temperature (36.2 ± 0.41 at 70 °C), Substrate concentration (29.0 ± 0.60 at 0.6 g), metal ions (27.2 ± 0.04 at Cd2+). The raw feather degradation studies shows, the Bacillus subtilis have great feather degradation potential (79%) then Bacillus licheniformis. The Bacillus subtilis colonization on treated feathers was examined under scanning electron microscopy.