DOWNSTREAM PROCESSING OF MICROBIAL RENNET FROM SOLID-STATE FERMENTED MOLDY BRAN

In recent years due to acute shortage of calf-rennet, microbial rennet s seem to be an effective alternative and are commercially produced. M ucor miehei was cultivated under the solid state fermentation conditio ns, and the moldy bran was extracted using a semicontinuous multiple c ontact forced percolation method. The treated extract was then filtere d through 5% R16 clay which enabled easy and efficient removal of impu rities such as lipase and protease without involving costly chemical t reatments. The ethyl alcohol precipitated enzyme was dried and made in to powder form having activity of 1.5 x 10(5) Soxhlet units/gm.