Polyhydroxyalkanoates Production by Mixed Microbial Culture under High Salinity

João M. Carvalho, Bruno C. Marreiros and Maria A. M. Reis
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João M. Carvalho: UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal
Bruno C. Marreiros: UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal
Maria A. M. Reis: UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 3, 1-15

Abstract: The fishing industry produces vast amounts of saline organic side streams that require adequate treatment and disposal. The bioconversion of saline resources into value-added products, such as biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), has not yet been fully explored. This study investigated PHA production by mixed microbial cultures under 30 g NaCl /L, the highest NaCl concentration reported for the acclimatization of a PHA-accumulating mixed microbial culture (MMC). The operational conditions used during the culture-selection stage resulted in an enriched PHA-accumulating culture dominated by the Rhodobacteraceae family (95.2%) and capable of storing PHAs up to 84.1% wt. (volatile suspended solids (VSS) basis) for the highest organic loading rate (OLR) applied (120 Cmmol/(L.d)). This culture presented a higher preference for the consumption of valeric acid (0.23 ± 0.03 Cmol HVal /(Cmol X .h)), and the 3HV monomer polymerization (0.33 ± 0.04 Cmmol HV /(Cmmol X .h) was higher as well. As result, a P(3HB-co-3HV)) with high HV content (63% wt.) was produced in the accumulation tests conducted at higher OLRs and with 30 g NaCl /L. A global volumetric PHA productivity of 0.77 gPHA/(L.h) and a specific PHA productivity of 0.21 gPHA/(gX.h) were achieved. These results suggested the significant potential of the bioconversion of saline resources into value-added products, such as PHAs.

Keywords: saline resources; halotolerant; PHA-accumulating MMC; PHAs accumulation; biopolymer; P(3HB-co-3HV) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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