Abstract
Fungal cultures were screened for their ability to produce extracellular lipase through different incubation periods, in spite of some Aspergillus niger gave highest lipolytic activities, Mucor racemosus was selected in this study due to its non- pathogenicity. Optimum lipase activity was obtained after 3 days incubation period at 35 degrees C using submerged culture technique. Using a modified complex medium (3% peptone; 0.2% KH2PO4; 0.05% KCl; 0.05% MgSO4.7H(2)O; 1% glucose; 1% olive oil and 0.01 M barium acetate as additives; pH was adjusted to 7.0 using 0.2 M phosphate buffer) stimulated M. racemosus lipase by 114.3%. The production of lipolytic enzyme by M. racemosus was up- scaled to 5 L stirred- tank bioreactor. Under optimized conditions, lipase and specific enzyme activities were improved by 2 folds (1211 U/mL and 28 U/mg protein) as compared to shake flask studies.