Agrowastes utilization by Raoultella ornithinolytica for optimal extracellular peroxidase activity

The industrial applications and prospects of microbial peroxidase are on the upwards trend, thus necessitating the search for sources with high turnaround time. Actinobacterial species have been a major source of peroxidase for the obvious reasons of having robust metabolite expression capabilities. However, other bacteria species have been underexplored for peroxidase production, hence the motivation for the investigation into the peroxidase production potential of Raoultella ornithinolytica OKOH‐1 (KX640917). The bacteria expressed optimum specific peroxidase activity of 16.48 ± 0.89 U mg−1, which is higher than those previously reported. The optimal fermentation conditions were pH 5 (3.44 ± 0.64 U mL−1), incubation temperature of 35 °C (5.25 ± 0.00 U mL−1), and agitation speed of 150 rpm (9.45 ± 2.57 U mL−1), with guaiacol and ammonium chloride as the best inducer and nitrogen supplement, respectively. On valorization of agrowastes as a sole carbon source for the secretion of peroxidase, sawdust gave the best peroxidase yield (15.21 ± 2.48 U mg−1) under solid‐state fermentation. Also, a nonperoxide‐dependent enzyme activity, which suggests probable laccase activity, was observed. The ability of the bacteria to utilize agrowastes is highly economical and as well a suitable waste management strategy. Consequently, R. ornithinolytica OKOH‐1 is a promising industrial strain with dexterity for enhanced peroxidase production.