Volume: 3, 2024
3rd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: E010
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL3.E010
Published online: 24 April 2024
ICDSUPL, 3, E010 (2024)
PHB production optimization
Artai Lage1*, Esther Berrendero2, Eva González1, Joan Garcia1
1 Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Politechnic University of Catalonia, Eduard Maristany 16, 08019, Barcelona, Spain
2 Applied Biology Department, Miguel Hernández University, Av. de la Universidad, 03202, Elche, Spain
* Corresponding author: artai.lage@upc.edu
Abstract
The increasing concern about environmental pollution has led to the search for sustainable alternatives based on bioplastic products, thus, avoiding petroleum derivatives. Among these alternatives, one solution are bioplastics derived from cyanobacteria. Those microorganisms are capable of producing polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a natural form of plastic. Five different strains of cyanobacteria were isolated from environmental samples to test their PHB production at different media conditions in order to find the optimal conditions for PHB production. Cultures were set in both modified BG11 media (without nitrogen, phosphorus and inorganic carbon) and secondary treated wastewater. One and the other media were tested at different acetate concentrations (0 g/L, 0.6 g/L and 4 g/L) in 50 mL tubes. All tubes were inoculated with a biomass concentration of 0.4g/L VSS and homogenized with nitrogen gas aeration under darkness conditions for seven days. Results show that the optimal conditions for maximum PHB production are found in the isolated culture of Synechocystis sp. using modified BG-11 medium with a 0.6 g/L acetate concentration. Under these conditions Synechocystis sp. was able to produce up to 10-fold the productivity compared to other strain counterparts. For all strains, secondary treated wastewater diminished PHB production. Resulting in an increase of acetate concentration to reach the same PHB values as the ones found in modified BG11 media at lower acetate levels. Biomass quantity remained stable at 0.4g/L VSS after the 7-day inoculation for all strains in every condition except for the Synechococcus sp. strain that diminished its biomass concentration after one week grown in secondary treated wastewater. Finally, the data obtained can serve as a basis for creating bioplastics which act as biodegradable raw materials that are environmentally friendly.
Keywords: PHB, cyanobacteria, secondary treated wastewater
How to cite
A. Lage, E. Berrendero, E. González, J. Garcia, 2024. PHB production optimization. In: 3rd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL3.E010