<![CDATA[Land degradation has created an urgent need for innovative restoration strategies based on microbial applications. The microbiological approach using cellulase enzymes produced by cellulolytic bacteria is a prospective step to address problems related to land restoration and biodegradation of complex organic matter in the environment. This study aimed to isolate and characterize cellulolytic bacteria from post-mining soil collected at the Martabe gold mine site in South Sumatra, Indonesia. Isolation and selection of cellulolytic bacteria was performed on 1% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) medium, resulting of two non-pathogenic Gram-positive isolates, TSUS3.4.1 and TSUS3.4.2, with cellulolytic index of 2.51 and 2.26, respectively. Hemolysis tests on blood agar confirmed the semi- and non-pathogenic activity of both isolates. The growth curve and enzyme-specific activity was tested and measured in minimal nutrition broth with addition of 1% CMC with the highest activity values of 0.37 U/mg for TSUS3.4.1 and 0.17 U/mg for TSUS3.4.2 at the 27th hour after incubation. TSUS3.4.1 isolate has optimum cellulase activity at pH 6 and 30°C. TSUS3.4.2 isolate has optimum cellulase activity at pH 7 and temperature 30°C. These findings highlight the isolates potential positioning them as promising candidates for biotechnological applications in post-mining land rehabilitation and organic waste degradation. Keywords: biodegradation, cellulolytic bacteria, cellulose, organic matters, post-mining]]>
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