Parameter optimization for thermostable lipase production and performance evaluation as prospective detergent additive

Lipase based formulations has been a rising interest to laundry detergent industry for their eco-friendly property over phosphate-based counterparts and compatibility with chemical detergents ingredients. A thermo-stable <i>Anoxybacillus</i> sp. ARS-1 isolated from Taptapani Hotspring, India was characterized for optimum lipase production employing statistical model central composite design (CCD) under four independent variables (temperature, pH, % moisture and bio-surfactant) by solid substrate fermentation (SSF) using mustard cake. The output was utilized to find the effect of parameters and their interaction employing response surface methodology (RSM). A quadratic regression with <i>R</i>² = 0.955 established the model to be statically best fitting and a predicted highest lipase production of 29.4 IU/g at an optimum temperature of 57.5 °C, pH 8.31, moisture 50% and 1.2 mg of bio-surfactant. Experimental production of 30.3 IU/g lipase at above conditions validated the fitness of model. <i>Anoxybacillus sp.</i> ARS-1 produced lipase was found to resist almost all chemical detergents as well as common laundry detergent, proving it to be a prospective additive for incorporation.