A thermostable lipase was produced in continuous cultivation of a newly isolated thermophilic Bacillus sp. strain IHI-91 growing optimally at 65 degrees C. Lipase activity decreased with increasing dilution rate while lipase productivity showed a maximum of 340 U l-1 h-1 at a condition rate of 0.4 h-1. Lipase productivity was increased by 50% compared to data from batch fermentations. Up to 70% of the total lipase activity measured was associated to cells and by-products or residual substrate. Kinetic and stoichiometric parameters for the utilisation of olive oil were determined. The maximal biomass output method led to a saturation constant Ks of 0.88 g/l. Both batch growth data and a washout experiment yielded a maximal specific growth rate, mu max, of 1.0 h-1. Oxygen uptake rates of up to 2.9 g l-1 h-1 were calculated and the yield coefficient, Y X/O, was determined to be 0.29 g dry cell weight/g O2. From an overall material balance the yield coefficient, Y X/S, was estimated to be 0.60 g dry cell weight/g olive oil.

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An efficient lipid-degrading thermophilic aerobic bacterium was isolated from an icelandic hot spring and classified as Bacillus thermoleovorans IHI-91. The aerobic bacterium grows optimally at 65 degrees C and pH 6.0 and secretes a high level of lipase (300 Ul(-1)). The newly isolated strain utilizes several lipids such as palmitic acid, stearic acid, lanolin, olive oil, sunflower seed oil, soya oil, and fish oil as sole carbon and energy source without an additional supply of growth factors. The degradation of about 93% of triolein, which is present in olive oil, was observed after only 7h of fermentation at a maximal growth rate of 1.0 h(-1). During growth at optimal conditions on yeast extract, the doubling time was only 15 min. Based on 16S rDNA studies, DNA-DNA hybridization and morphological and physiological properties, the isolate IHI-91 was identified as Bacillus thermoleovorans IHI-91 sp. nov. Because of its production of high concentrations of thermoactive lipases and esterases and the capability of degrading a wide range of lipids at high temperatures, the isolated strain is an ideal candidate for application in various biotechnological processes such as wastewater treatment.