Abstract:
Microbial hydrolysis of corncob to glucose by cellulase-producing bacteria (Bacillus subtilis) isolated from Thai higher termites, Microcerotermes sp., was investigated. Corncob consists of 43.82% cellulose, 39.62% hemicellulose, and 13.63% lignin Each reactor contained corncob particles, bacteria cells, and production medium. The effect of particle size (40-60 mesh, 60-80 mesh, and 80-100 mesh), strain of bacteria (A 002 and M 015), and the concentration of secondary carbon source on the glucose concentration was investigated. In addition, glucose production using the isolated bacteria was compared with a commercial enzyme. High performance liquid chromatography with a refractive index detector was used to determine the quantity of glucose. The optimum condition of microbial hydrolysis using bacteria isolated from Thai higher termites was found to be 80-100 mesh of corncob particle, with strain A 002 at 37ºC. The maximum glucose concentration was 0.60 g/L at 8 h.
