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Abstract

Microbial enzymes such as amylase, lipase and protease are commercially significant and have widespread applications in many industries like pharmaceutical, leather, detergent, textile and other industries. Many haloalkaliphilic Bacillus species in hyper saline environment produces various types of commercially important enzymes such as lipase. A total of twelve Bacillus strains were isolated from Lonar crater and screened for lipase production on egg yolk agar medium. A Bacillus species (DHT 25) was found to be a prominent lipase producer which was later on identified by various morphological, cultural, biochemical and 16s rRNA sequencing as Bacillus flexus. Alkaline lipase production and activity recorded optimum at pH 9; at temperature 60°C, and enzyme concentration at 7mL and substrate concentration at 3mL. Lipase from this bacterial strain was active at higher temperature and pH and may find potential applications in food, pharmaceutical and detergent industries.