Performance of a Pectinase from Bacillus Subtilis WSHB04 - 02 Used in Bioscouring of Cotton Fabrics

A pectinase produced by Bacillus subtilis WSHB04-02 isolated from soil with lyase activity operating at alkaline pH was studied. The Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters of this newly isolated pectinase on different substrates, such as citrus pectin and polygalacturonic acid (PGA), were determined, and pectin proved to be the most suitable substrate. The effects of temperature and pH on pectinase activity and stability were also investigated. The optimal temperature for pectinase was 55℃ with a stable range of 45℃-55℃. In general, pectinase was pH insensitive and the stable pH ranged from 8.6 to 10.0. Ultimately the bioscouring effects of cotton fabrics using this pectinase were evaluated and some promising results were obtained.