_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: Email: helalbmb2016@hstu.ac.bd; Original Research Article Asian Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 3(2): 66-78, 2018 ISSN: 2456-8341 HYDROTHERMAL ASSISTED Bacillus sp. AY8 PRETREATMENT ON LIGNOCELLULOSE FOR THE LIQUEFACTION AND ENHANCEMENT OF ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS MD. AZIZUL HAQUE 1* , DHIRENDRA NATH BARMAN 2 , SNYGDHA RANI DAS 1 , MD. YEASIN PRODHAN 1 , ABU KHAYER MD. MUKTADIRUL BARI CHOWDHURY 3 , MD. BOKHTAIR RAHMAN 1 , MD. ATIQUL HAQUE 4 and HAN DAE YUN 5 1 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur 5200, Bangladesh. 2 Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali 3814, Bangladesh. 3 Department of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur 5200, Bangladesh. 4 Department of Microbiology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur 5200, Bangladesh. 5 Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Chinju 660-701, Republic of Korea. AUTHORS’ CONTRIBUTIONS This work was carried out in collaboration between all authors. Authors MAH and HDY had conceived the experiment. Authors MAH and DNB designed the study, performed the statistical analysis, wrote the protocol and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Authors SRD, MYP, AKMMBC, MBR and MAH partially involved in writing, managing and preparing the manuscript during submission and revision. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. ARTICLE INFORMATION Editor(s): (1) Chung-Jen Chiang, China Medical University, China. Reviewers: (1) J. Pieter H. Van Wyk, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, South Africa. (2) Douglas F. Silva, Paraná Northern State University – UENP, Brasil. (3) Kubilay Metin, Adnan Menderes University, Turkey. Received: 10 th June 2018 Accepted: 27 th August 2018 Published: 13 th September 2018 __________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT Lignocellulose liquefaction by bacterial treatment is a quite challenging task yet. The microstructural changes and liquefaction efficiency of hydrothermal associated Bacillus sp. AY8 treated lingo-cellulosic straw have been focused in this study. The straws (5%) of rice, barley, and wheat were treated at 170°C, 180°C and 190°C for 30 min in biomass digester. The optimum hydrothermal treatment conditions to complete liquefaction