Title : Microbial strategies using lipase and actinomycetes for cottonseed soapstock biodegradation
Abstract:
Cottonseed oil refining generates a by-product known as soapstock—a semi-solid residue rich in fatty acids and neutral lipids that poses significant environmental disposal challenges. The present study focuses on the microbial degradation of cotton seed soapstock using potent lipase-producing microorganisms including fungi, bacteria, and actinomycetes, with special emphasis on Nocardiopsis alba. The isolates were screened for lipolytic activity, optimized for enzyme production using statistical design approaches such as Plackett–Burman and Central Composite Design (CCD), and characterized biochemically and molecularly. The optimized lipase enzyme exhibited remarkable stability under various physicochemical conditions and demonstrated effective degradation of soapstock, as confirmed through GC–MS analysis. The purified lipase showed high stability under varied temperature and pH conditions and effectively degraded soapstock, confirmed through GC–MS analysis. This study establishes an eco-friendly and cost-effective microbial approach for managing soapstock waste while recovering valuable bioproducts, contributing to sustainable waste valorization and environmental pollution reduction.
Keywords: Soapstock biodegradation, lipase, Nocardiopsis alba, actinomycetes, RSM optimization, bioremediation.
