Production of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (P3HB) from molasses by Burkholderia mimosarum MA18

• Grant number: 17/26552-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2018
• End date: July 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Jonas Contiero
• Grantee: Marcela Nogueira Rodrigues
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are polyesters synthesized from excess carbon source and nutrient limitation in the form of bacterial granules for energy reserve intracellular. PHAs have physico-chemical properties similar to synthetic polymers of petrochemical origin, besides being ecologically viable due to their high biodegradability. Among PHAs, poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (P3HB) is the most widely studied. The properties of P3HB are similar to those of polypropylene (PP), which is used in the production of conventional plastics, making it a potential substitute for petroleum-derived polymers. However, in spite of having environmental advantages, the high cost with carbon sources for microbial cultures is still a limiting factor in obtaining PHAs. Thus, agroindustrial byproducts, due to the low cost, has become an attractive alternative for an economically viable production of these biopolymers. In this project, Burkholderia mimosarum MA18, will be evaluated for the production of P3HB from sugarcane molasses, through different culture parameters,with the aim of establishing a line adapted to the synthesis of PHAs from a by-product of the sugar and alcohol industry, favoring a biorefinery model focused on the production of bioplastics and biofuels.