Glycerol and starch as substrate in the production of poly(beta-hydroxyalkanoate)s by Bacillus megaterium BBST4 strain

M.A. PORRAS; M.A. CUBITTO; M.A. VILLAR

Visegrád

Conferencia; 2nd International Conference on Bio-based Polymers and Composites; 2014

Laboratory of Plastics and Rubber Technology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics

Poly(beta-hydroxyalkanoate)s (PHAs) are a family of naturally occurring biodegradable polyesters produced and accumulated as a reserve of carbon and energy source in intracyto-plasmic granules by bacteria. PHAs possess similar properties to non-biodegradable petrochemical-based polymers such as poly(ethylene) or poly(propylene).A major limitation to the widespread use of PHA is its cost of production.In this work, the potential of production of PHA of Bacillus megaterium BBST4 strain, isolated from Bahía Blanca estuary, cultured in a minimal medium of low cost, using glycerol and starch as carbon sources and urea as nitrogen source, with and without yeast ex-tract were studied and compared.