Poly(hydroxyalkanoate)s production by Bacillus megaterium BBST4 using an agroindustrial by-product as carbon source

FERNANDO D. RAMOS; JULIANA SUSCA TROMBA; OLIVIA LÓPEZ; LUCIANA CASTILLO; M. SOLEDAD DIAZ; MARCELO A. VILLAR

Simposio; XV Simposio Latinamericano de Polímeros; 2016

Poly(hydroxyalkanoate)s, PHAs, are biodegradable polymers synthesized by an extensive variety of microorganisms as a carbon and energy reserve.1 This biopolymer is a promising material due to its physical characteristics, mechanical properties and resemblance to synthetic plastics widely used nowadays. On the other hand, it can be produced using non-expensive carbon sources such as glycerol, the main by-product obtained in the biodiesel production industry.2 Regarding its potential applications, carriers for drug delivery, food packaging, pharmaceutical and cosmetics products, among others, can be highlighted. In this way, the main objective of this study is to reduce the cost of PHA production by using different by-products as carbon source. Fermentation experiments for PHA production are carried out using glycerol as carbon source by means of Bacillus megaterium. Besides, the obtained biopolymer is structurally characterized using complementary techniques.