Feather degradation by Bacillus sp. FK 46 in submerged cultivation.

Cultivation conditions affecting feather degradation by Bacillus sp. FK 46 were investigated. The results showed that feather was almost completely degraded under the following conditions: 1% whole chicken feather as a substrate at the initial medium pH of 9 with 5% bacterial inoculum, at a temperature of 37 degrees C and a shaking speed of 250 rev/min. Glucose, methanol, Tween 80 and Triton X-100, however, had no effect on feather degradation. After feather was degraded, its residue and fermented broth would become a protein feed for animals.