Partial purification and characterization of extracellular cellulase from a strain ofTrichoderma viride isolated from forest soil

Partial purification of extracellular cellulase ofTrichoderma viride isolated from forest soil was done by ammonium sulfate precipitation of culture supernatant, centrifugation at higher speed, solubilization of protein in sodium acetate buffer and dialysis. The specific activity of cellulase in the culture supernatant, was 136 nkat/mg which was increased by 172% after the completion of final step (234 nkat/mg). The recovery of enzyme was 70%. The enzyme was characterized by demonstration of optimum activity at 55°C and pH 5.0 with 1% carboxymethyl cellulose as substrate.