Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Microbial community analysis with a high PHA storage capacity.

L S Serafim1, P C Lemos, S Rossetti

  • 1Departamento de Química, CQFB/REQUIMTE, FCT/Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal.

Water Science and Technology : a Journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research
|August 11, 2006
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Olaparib as a rescue treatment in platinum-refractory germ-cell tumors: the IGG-02 phase II trial.

ESMO open·2025
Same author

The phototrophic metabolic behaviour of Candidatus accumulibacter.

Water research·2024
Same author

Polyhydroxyalkanoates production in purple phototrophic bacteria ponds: A breakthrough in outdoor pilot-scale operation.

The Science of the total environment·2023
Same author

Ammonia impact on the selection of a phototrophic - chemotrophic consortium for polyhydroxyalkanoates production under light-feast / dark-aerated-famine conditions.

Water research·2023
Same author

Long term operation of a phototrophic biological nutrient removal system: Impact of CO<sub>2</sub> concentration and light exposure on process performance.

Journal of environmental management·2023
Same author

Hydrocarbons removal from real marine sediments: Analysis of degradation pathways and microbial community development during bioslurry treatment.

The Science of the total environment·2022
Same journal

Pyrolysis temperature shapes the structure and filtration capacity of spent-coffee-ground biochar for 1-μm microplastics and bacteria removal from wastewater.

Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research·2026
Same journal

Effect of cooling and cover material on the performance of a solar humidification-dehumidification system used for brine concentration.

Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research·2026
Same journal

Comparative multi-criteria assessment of decentralized wastewater treatment technologies for coastal tourist communities and island slaughterhouses: a design framework with uncertainty analysis for Latin America.

Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research·2026
Same journal

An improved relative frequency method for flood season partitioning.

Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research·2026
Same journal

Drivers of wastewater dynamics: a statistical analysis of England's large wastewater treatment works.

Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research·2026
Same journal

A review on modification of piezoelectric materials for wastewater treatment: mechanisms, applications, and future perspectives.

Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research·2026
See all related articles

Researchers explored biodegradable plastic production using activated sludge fed with acetate or propionate. Betaproteobacteria, specifically the Azoarcus genus, were identified as key players in storing polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs).

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biotechnology
  • Environmental Science

Background:

  • Activated sludge is a crucial component in wastewater treatment.
  • Biodegradable plastics, such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), offer sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics.
  • Understanding microbial communities involved in PHA production is vital for optimizing bioplastic synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the production of biodegradable plastics (PHAs) from activated sludge using different carbon substrates.
  • To identify the microbial populations responsible for PHA accumulation.
  • To characterize the types of PHAs produced.

Main Methods:

  • Aerobic dynamic substrate feeding was employed in sequencing batch reactors.
  • Acetate and propionate were used as sole carbon sources.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) combined with Nile Blue staining was used for microbial identification and PHA localization.

    • Main Results:

    • Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) homopolymer was produced using acetate.
    • A copolymer of hydroxybutyrate and hydroxyvalerate, P(HB/HV), was produced using propionate.
    • Three main microbial morphotypes were identified, with Betaproteobacteria (affiliated with the Azoarcus genus) being the primary PHA accumulators.

    Conclusions:

    • Activated sludge can be effectively utilized for producing different types of PHAs by controlling the carbon substrate.
    • Specific bacterial groups within Betaproteobacteria play a significant role in PHA biosynthesis.
    • This study contributes to the understanding of microbial ecology in PHA-producing systems.