Utilization of fish viscera for protease production and used for digestion of waste in the pond

Abstract

Mozambique Tilapia (Tilapia mossambica) viscera extracts were prepared using water, KCl solution and EDTA homogenization. The extract with the highest protease specific activities of 1687.5 and 2800 IU/mg protein, respectively. The enzyme was active at the optimum pH (4.0) and temperature (45 °C) when casein was used as a substrate. The enzyme showed the highest activity and purification when precipitated at 0-80% ammonium sulphate effectively improved specific activity of enzyme. Thus, the results revealed that active digestive enzymes could be prepared from tilapia viscera and can be used to digest the waste build-up in the pond and which greatly increase the clarity of the water by hydrolysing the proteinacious waste materials that build up. This research was carried out for the utilization of fish by-products for producing enzymes and also to the reduction of waste disposal problems.