Feasibility study on polyhydroxybutyrate production of dye-decolorizing bacteria using dye and amine-bearing cultures

This study tended to use indigenous PHA-generating and dye-decolorizing microorganisms Aeromonas hydrophila NIU01, YTl1, KB23 and Aeromonas salmonicida 741, Klebsiella pneumoniae ZMd31 for comparing PHA production performance at various dye or amine-bearing conditions. Batch cultures using lauric acid (C12) at various concentrations as sole carbon source were carried out to determine optimal concentration for microbial growth and the production of poly 3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB). At optimal concentration of C12, cultures laden with dyes at different concentrations were conducted to explore whether dye-bearing cultures could stimulate or inhibit capabilities of PHA production. In addition, as aromatic amines were generated during reductive decolorization, effects of supplemented amines on capabilities of PHA-production were also conducted to uncover whether PHA generation during dye decolorization was attenuated. According to biostatistics, the finding indicated that strains NIU01, YTl1, KB23 could significantly tolerate dye pollutant(s) and aromatic amines for cell growth and PHA-production, suggesting promising feasibility to be used for PHA production during wastewater decolorization.

► Explore feasibility of biopolymer PHB production in parallel with dye decolorization of indigenous bacterial decolorizers. ► Disclose toxicity effects of decolorized intermediates and dyes on PHB production. ► Unveil promising naturally occurring decolorizers for PHB production.