Keratinolytic microorganisms have great importance in the production of protein hydrolysates. Bacillus sp., a potential chicken feather degrading bacterium was isolated and identified by morphological and biochemical methods was used in the present study. The interactions of various factors such as temperature, pH, substrate concentration and composition of carbon and nitrogen sources as well as the level of inoculants were determined. The optimum conditions for keratinase production and feather degradation was at pH 6 and 31ºC. The maximum amount of enzyme production was observed in yeast extract 15.83 U/ml at 72 hours, fructose (5.64 U/ml) at 48 hours and 0.5 mg of chicken feather as substrate produced 11.44 U/ml at 96 hours in Bacillus sp. The maximum keratinase production was recorded at 96 hours in 100 µl of inoculum for specific activity 3.49 U/ml. Bacillus sp. can be used as an effective tool for the melanised feather degradation and gives a remedy for environmental concern over abundant feather waste conversion to value added product formation in biotech industry with its promising keratinolytic abilities.
