Production and characterization of thermostable α‐amylase by thermophilic Geobacillus stearothermophilus

Studies on the alpha-amylase-producing thermophilic bacterium isolated and identified from a hot spring in Jordan and designated as Geobacillus stearothermophilus JT2 were carried out. The optimum conditions for growth and enzyme production were pH 7 and 55 degrees C. The study of the kinetics of cellular growth indicated a mu(max) of 0.22/h, a K(s) of 1.2 g/L, a tau(d) of 3.15 h and a Y(x/s) of 0.43 g cell/g starch. In addition, the activation energy for growth and death were estimated and found to be 30.5 and 210 J/mol, respectively. The effect of different carbon and nitrogen sources on the cellular growth was tested.