Polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis by bacteria isolated from landfill and ETP with pomegranate peels as carbon source

Many bacteria produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) when exposed to stressful conditions. It is a known fact that PHAs have the potential to replace petrochemical-based plastics as they are biodegradable, biocompatible, and thermoprocessible materials. The study focusses on producing PHA from microbes isolated from polluted environments and pomegranate peels were utilized as a unique carbon source. This was done to ensure reduction in the cost of the substrate that has not yet been reported as a substrate for PHA production. A comparative study was also done with Cupriavidus necator, the reference strain. Out of many bacterial strains, isolated, eight of these were found to have ability to produce PHA. Pomegranate peel was substituted as carbon source in the medium and all bacterial isolates along with reference strain were used to test their ability to produce PHA from waste. Cupriavidus necator, the reference strain, yielded 71% PHA. Bacillus halotolerans DSM8802 yielded 83% at 1:1:: C:N ratio at 72 h.