Isolation of a cellulolytic rod and its potential application in bio-ethanol production

Abstract

: With the world's focus on bio-fuel, cellulolytic microorganisms are being exclusively explored. In this paper, a strain of rod, NBG, was obtained from the rumen of Inner Mongolia sheep by an enrichment method with Whatman No.1 filter paper as the selective substrate. The strain was found to effectively degrade filter paper in solution. It was identified as Fibrobacter succinogenes based on DNA G + C mol %, together with morphological, physiological and biochemical tests. The endo-glucanase, β-glucosidase and filter paper enzyme activity of NBG reached 62.5 ± 3.0 U•mL-1, 169.0 ± 9.4 U•mL-1 and 30.8 ± 5.4 U•mL-1, respectively, within 72 h of fermentation.