Novel method for isolation of PHB from bacterial biomass

abstract

English

Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) serves as an alternative to conventional plastics for a variety of applications. To find large‑scale use, its production must be profitable, sustainable and environmentally friendly, while meeting challenging quality demands. We have developed an isolation method employing salts of fatty acids that is more economical and greener than comparable methods with other surfactants. Concentrated Cupriavidus necator biomass suspension is digested using small amount of sodium salts of fatty acids. After the reaction, the polymer is separated by centrifugation. the method offers several advantages over other surfactant‑based methods. Other surfactants are produced from petrochemical or primary agricultural raw materials by complex multi‑step processes. the sodium salts of fatty acids, on the other hand, can be obtained by a one‑step reaction using a secondary feedstock (waste cooking oil). After use of other surfactants, hard‑to-manage wastewater is obtained. In our method, the wastewater can be processed via simple precipitation with small amount of acid to reduce content of organic carbon, which simplifies wastewater treatment. the precipitate contains mainly fatty acids and other biomolecules and was found to be readily metabolized by the PHB‑producing bacteria. Therefore, it can be utilized in the process as co‑substrate for biomass production. Furthermore, this method provides high quality PHB (purity 96%, Mw = 389 000) in high yields (99%). We used the polymer for a real‑world application (3D printing) to demonstrate its applicability for material development.

PHA, PHB

POSPÍŠILOVÁ, A.; NOVÁČKOVÁ, I.; PŘIKRYL, R.

27. 11. 2020

Vysoké učení technické v Brně, Fakulta chemická, Purkyňova 464/118, 612 00 Brno

Brno

978-80-214-5920-0

Studentská odborná konference CHEMIE JE ŽIVOT 2020, Sborník abstraktů

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