Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (P3HB) production from biodiesel glycerol by Pandoraea sp. MA03 and Burkholderia cepacia MA13

• Grant number: 13/22378-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2014
• End date: July 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Jonas Contiero
• Grantee: Vítor Rodrigues Marin
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are bacterial polyesters accumulated as intracellular granules of energy reserve materials, which are synthesized under nutrient imbalance and excess carbon. Among a large number of PHA-producing bacteria and approximately 150 different types of monomer composition, poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB) is the most common type and widely studied of all PHAs. The P3HB properties resemble those of petrochemical-based polypropylene (PP), indicating that P3HB may be suitable for several applications as a partial substitute for nonbiodegradable synthetic plastics. Although PHAs represent environmental advantages to replace the petrochemical polymers, their expensive production price limit their use for general application. The biodiesel glycerol has become an attractive alternative to reduce the costs of carbon sources for PHAs production. In this project, Pandoraea sp. MA03 and Burkholderia cepacia MA 13 strains will be evaluated for P3HB production from biodiesel glycerol utilizing a central composite experimental design, which will analyze the best values of temperature and biodiesel glycerol and ammonium sulfate concentrations.(AU)