Abstract
(1) The effect of pH on the activity of cellulase (Cx) was tested with the one-percent CMC solution prepared by Mc'Ilvain buffer solution varing in pH value from 3.0 to 8.0. The change of enzymic activity was shown by the percent loss of viscosity after 30 minutes of reaction time. The optimum pH value was varied from 5.0 to 7.0 corresponding to the bacterial species which produced the enzyme (see Fig. 1). In general, the enzyme was very unstable in pH 3.0 and rapidly inactivated.
(2) It was evidenced that the effect of temperature on cellulase activity, which was represented by the percent loss of viscosity of the mixture of one-percent CMC solution and 7 day-old culture filtrate, was remarkable in higher temperatures between 30 to 60°C tested (see Fig. 2).
(3) The effect of five kinds of salts on the cellulase activity was variable according to the bacterial species or strains tested (see Fig. 3 and Table 2). Some salts, recognized as having a promoting effect to the activity of cellulase (Cx) secreted by one bacterium, were obstructive to those from other bacteria.
