soybean.

The growth and protease production by Bacillus sp.was examined for leather processing industries. The maximum protease activity was 88 mg/ml using 4% (w/v) of Mongdal powder as substrate. Mongdal powder is an inexpensive and readily available, thus it can be used as the cost effective crude material for the production of an extracellular protease. Inorganic nitrogen sources proved to be less favorable, for protease production as strong catabolic repression was observed with ammonium ions. A maximum of 36 mg/mL of protease was produced in 48 h in a 22 L bioreactor in addition, the enzyme was found to be very stable toward  of the metal ions used (Ca2+, Mg2+, KH 2PO4, and NaCl) maximum enzyme activity found in KH 2PO4 32 mg/ml. Keywards: Alkaline protease,Mongdal powder, Bacillus sp., protease, soybean.