Synthesis kinetics of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) by using a Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutant strain grown on hexadecane

• Pseudomonas aeruginosa was grown on n-hexadecane for PHA production.
• The production kinetics was studied on daily basis for 6 days.
• The PHA accumulation was observed up to 40.66% (w/w) of cell dry mass.
• The product was isolated, purified and chemically analyzed for identification.
• ESI-MS analysis exhibited a polyhydroxybutyrate with molecular mass of m/z 448.5.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are eco-friendly bio-polyesters which are produced in many microorganisms and plants. In this study, hexadecane was utilized as sole carbon source for the biosynthesis and optimization of PHAs in a gamma ray mutant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in minimal salts media. Up to six days, various process aspects were checked to achieve the high possible yield of PHAs on hexadecane in minimal salts media. The batch fermentation produced 1.5 g l−1 cell dry mass (CDM) and upto 40.66% (w w−1) PHAs accumulation. The different production yield values of YX/S, YP/S and YP/X were 0.242, 0.098 and 0.41 g g−1, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectra were used to confirm and characterize the produced PHA. The LC-MS analysis of the PHA showed that produced copolymer had major molecular mass of m z−1 448.5 representing the presence of polyhydroxybutyrate.

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