Selection of bacterial isolates producing polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from carbohydrates present in soybean molasses and Eucalyptus sp. barks

• Grant number: 19/20338-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2019
• End date: June 30, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: José Gregório Cabrera Gomez
• Grantee: João Victor Naufal
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The use of large amounts of petroleum-based plastics in commerce and industry even though practical and comparatively cheaper has dangerous environmental consequences for the accumulation of plastic waste in the environment. On the other hand polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable polymers with thermoplastic properties used by prokaryotes and have the potential to replace the plastics currently used. In addition to their biodegradability PHAs can be produced from carbohydrates present in agroindustrial co-products such as soybean molasses and eucalyptus barks to lower their production costs. This project try to select the bacteria that best produce PHAs from these two co-products which are widely produced by Brazilian agriculture. (AU)