Production and Characterization of Polyhydroxyalkanoates from Wastewater via Mixed Microbial Cultures and Microalgae

Simone Bagatella, Riccardo Ciapponi, Elena Ficara, Nicola Frison and Stefano Turri
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Simone Bagatella: Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
Riccardo Ciapponi: Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
Elena Ficara: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Ambientale, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
Nicola Frison: Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Verona, Via S. Francesco 22, 37129 Verona, Italy
Stefano Turri: Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-19

Abstract: In the context of circular economy and sustainable production of materials, this project investigated the feasibility of producing sustainable polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) from microalgae and sludge used in the treatment of municipal wastewater. The overall process was studied looking at the main steps: microalgae production, fermentation of the biomass, production and characterization of the PHAs. It was possible to obtain blends of hydroxybutyrate-hydroxyvalerate copolymers with high molecular weights and different compositions depending on the nature of the feedstock (mixed volatile fatty acids). In some cases, almost completely amorphous PHA materials were obtained, suggesting a potential diversification of uses and applications.

Keywords: microalgae; wastewater; fermentation; polyhydroxyalkanoates; characterization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:6:p:3704-:d:776257

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