Polyhydroxyalkanoated-Rich Microbial Cells from Bio-Based Volatile Fatty Acids as Potential Ingredient for Aquaculture Feed

Alice Botturi, Federico Battista, Marco Andreolli, Filippo Faccenda, Salvatore Fusco, David Bolzonella, Silvia Lampis and Nicola Frison
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Alice Botturi: Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
Federico Battista: Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
Marco Andreolli: Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
Filippo Faccenda: Technology Transfer Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, via E. Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all’Adige, Italy
Salvatore Fusco: Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
David Bolzonella: Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
Silvia Lampis: Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
Nicola Frison: Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy

Energies, 2020, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: In this study, the production of polyhydroxyalkanoated PHA-rich microbial biomass as a novel feed additive in aquaculture was investigated at a lab-scale. Bio-based volatile fatty acids (VFAs), obtained from the acidogenic fermentation of agricultural residues in existing anaerobic digestion plants, were used as carbon and energy to cultivate the PHA-rich microbial biomass. The experimental activities were carried out using Thauera sp. Sel9 as pure strain, which was grown in a continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR) operated at three different hydraulic retention times (HRT). The highest productivity obtained of biomass cells was 0.69 g/L day, operating at one day HRT while the observed PHAs production yield was 0.14 gPHA/g soluble COD removed. At these conditions, the PHA concentration in the microbial cells was 41%. Although the sulfur amino acids were available at high concentrations and above the typical concentration found in fishmeal, the amino acids profile of the obtained biomass revealed a lack of histidine and threonine. A preliminary economic analysis showed that the production of a novel source of feed additive from the conversion of agro-residues could give higher benefits in terms of revenues compared to the production of biogas production through anaerobic digestion.

Keywords: polyhydroxyalkanoates; feed; aquaculture; anaerobic digestion; single cell protein (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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