Laccase production from Bacillus aestuarii KSK using Borassus flabellifer empty fruit bunch waste as a substrate and assessing their malachite green dye degradation

Aims The lignocellulosic waste, Borassus flabellifer empty fruit bunch waste (BFEFBW), was employed to produce laccase using Bacillus aestuarii KSK under solid‐state fermentation (SSF) conditions and to assess the efficiency of malachite green (MG) dye decolourization. Methods and Results Abiotic factors such as pH (5.0–9.0), temperature (25–45°C) and incubation time (24–96 h) were optimized using Response surface methodology‐Box‐Behenan Design (RSM‐BBD) to exploit the laccase production. The anticipated model revealed that the highest laccase activity of 437 U/ml shows after 60 h of incubation at 35°C at pH 7.0. The bacterial laccase was used to remove 89% of the MG dye in less time. Conclusion The laccase from B. aestuarii KSK decolorizes the MG and thereby making it a suitable choice for wastewater treatment from industrial effluents. Significance and Impact of the Study This study is the first report on the production of laccase from B. flabellifer empty fruit bunch waste as a substrate. Bacillus aestuarii KSK was isolated from the soil sample and used to produce laccase under SSF conditions. The bacterial laccase has the potential for industrial application in textile waste dye treatment.