Enhancement of the ligninolytic activity of Lysinibacillus sphaericus by the addition of MnSO4 and its impact on subsequent methane production from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (OPEFB)

Palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) is a recalcitrant agricultural waste not readily digested which produced in abundance. The recently isolated bacteria, Lysinibacillus sphaericus facultative anaerobe can digest lignin. objective of this study was to determine if the addition L. and MnSO4 could aid bioconversion OPEFB, enhance methane production during subsequent anaerobic digestion (AD). untreated OPEFB had specific potential 0.099 L/g VS doubled following pre-treatment with sphaericus. In presence 0.25 mM further 1.5-fold increase observed. This illustrates for first time how inducers (MnSO4) significantly bacteria's ability degrade lignocellulose through enhancement its lignin degrading enzymes. Thus, enabling be utilised more effectively biogas production.