Exploring simultaneous production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and exopolysaccharides in cyanobacteria-rich microbiomes

The aim of this study was to explore the viability of the dual production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and exopolysaccharides (EPS) by seven microbiomes rich in cyanobacteria. Our initial experiments involved to screen for EPS-producing candidates and examine the impact of salinity and acetate on EPS synthesis. Salinity's known influence on EPS production and acetate's role in enhancing PHB production guided our parameter selection. Surprisingly, neither the introduction of an external carbon source (acetate) nor exposure to an abiotic stressor (salt) significantly altered EPS synthesis rates, which ranged from 25 to 150 mg·L^-1, or its composition, with glucose being the dominant sugar component. Scaling up to a 3 L photobioreactor, we achieved simultaneous biopolymer production, reaching up to 205 mg·L^-1 EPS and 87 mg·L^-1 PHB. Additionally, the presence of uronic acid in the EPS facilitated biomass flocculation, streamlining the separation process, and potentially reducing associated time and costs.