Influence of ammonium on the accumulation of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) in aerobic open mixed cultures

Mixed microbial cultures enriched in feast–famine sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) can accumulate large amounts of the bioplastic PHB under conditions of ammonium starvation. If waste streams are to be used as a substrate, nutrient starvation may not always be achievable. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of ammonium on PHB production in the PHB production stage of the process. The biomass was enriched in an acetate-fed (carbon limited) feast–famine SBR operated at 30 °C, 1-d sludge residence time and with a cycle length of 12 h. The biomass was used in three fed-batch experiments with medium C/N ratios of ∞ (ammonium starvation), 40 Cmol Nmol−1 (ammonium limitation) and 8 Cmol Nmol−1 (ammonium excess) and acetate as the carbon source. Under conditions of ammonium starvation the biomass reached a maximum PHB content of 89 wt% after 7.6 h, under ammonium limitation 77 wt% after 9.3 h and under ammonium excess 69 wt% after 4.4 h. PHB contents decreased after these maxima were reached. PHB production slowed down more with time with larger ammonium availability. Growth led to a dilution of the PHB pool after the maximum PHB content was reached. Nutrient starvation seems thus to be the best strategy for maximal PHB production.