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Potential of various archae- and eubacterial strains as industrial polyhydroxyalkanoate producers from whey
Martin Koller1, Paula Hesse, Rodolfo Bona
1Graz University of Technology, Institute of Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering, Petersgasse 12 A-8010 Graz, Austria. martin.koller@tugraz.at
Abstract:
Three different microbial wild-type strains are compared with respect to their potential as industrial scale polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) producers from the feed stock whey lactose. The halophilic archaeon Haloferax mediterranei as well as two eubacterial strains (Pseudomonas hydrogenovora and Hydrogenophaga pseudoflava) are investigated. H. mediterranei accumulated 50 wt.-% of poly-3-(hydroxybutyrate-co-8%-hydroxyvalerate) from hydrolyzed whey without addition of 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) precursors (specific productivity q(p): 9.1 mg x g(-1) x h(-1)). Using P. hydrogenovora, the final percentage of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) amounted to 12 wt.-% (q(p): 2.9 mg x g(-1) x h(-1)). With H. pseudoflava, it was possible to reach 40 wt.-% P-3(HB-co-5%-HV) on non-hydrolyzed whey lactose plus addition of valeric acid as 3HV precursor (q(p): 12.5 mg x g(-1) x h(-1)). A detailed characterization of the isolated biopolyesters and an evaluation with regard to the economic feasibility completes the study.
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