Microbial Production of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (Phas) Using Kitchen Waste as an Inexpensive Carbon Source

Rayasam Vijay¹and Kumar Tarika²*

¹Department of Biotechnology, REVA University, Rukmini Knowledge Park, Kattigenahalli, Bangalore- 560064, India.

²Parul Institute of Applied Sciences (PIAS), Parul University, Post Limda, Vadodara, Waghodia, Gujarat- 391760, India.

Corresponding Author E-mail: tarika.kumar@gmail.com

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bbra/2733

ABSTRACT: It is a well-known fact that Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have the potential to replace petrochemical based plastics. The purpose of our study is to devise a method to reduce substrate cost and produce PHA from our own microbial isolates selected after isolation from polluted environments. A comparative study was done with the reference bacterium Cupriavidus necator. Fourteen bacterial strains were isolated from Polluted Landfills and Effluent Treatment Plant. Four bacterial isolates having the ability to produce PHA were selected. Orange peel and Onion peel were substituted for carbon source in the medium and all the bacterial isolates along with the reference strain were studied for the maximum ability to produce PHA from these wastes respectively. The reference strain Cupriavidus necator yielded 82% PHA in 1:1 C:N ratio utilizing onion peel and 64% in 4:1 C:N ratio utilizing orange peel at 96h of incubation respectively. The best results obtained on onion peels as carbon source were by the isolate Bacillus subtilis JCM 1465 with 89% in 3:1 at 48h of incubation. Maximum PHA production obtained by bacterial isolate Bacillus siamensis PD- A10 using orange peel as carbon source was upto 82% in 1:1 at 24h of incubation.

KEYWORDS: Biodegradable; Bioplastics; Biopolymers; Microbial Polysaccharides; Polyhydroxyalkanoates; Zero Wastage

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