Improved properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) produced by Comamonas sp. EB172 utilizing volatile fatty acids by regulating the nitrogen source

Biomed Res Int. 2013:2013:237806. doi: 10.1155/2013/237806. Epub 2013 Sep 11.

Abstract

This study presents the effect of carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N) (mol/mol) on the cell growth and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) accumulation by Comamonas sp. EB172 in 2 L fermenters using volatile fatty acids (VFA) as the carbon source. This VFA was supplemented with ammonium sulphate and yeast extract in the feeding solution to achieve C/N (mol/mol) 5, 15, 25, and 34.4, respectively. By extrapolating the C/N and the source of nitrogen, the properties of the polymers can be regulated. The number average molecular weight (M n ) of P(3HB-co-3HV) copolymer reached the highest at 838 × 10(3) Da with polydispersity index (PDI) value of 1.8, when the culture broth was supplemented with yeast extract (C/N 34.4). Tensile strength and Young's modulus of the copolymer containing 6-8 mol% 3HV were in the ranges of 13-14.4 MPa and 0.26-0.34 GPa, respectively, comparable to those of polyethylene (PE). Thus, Comamonas sp. EB172 has shown promising bacterial isolates producing polyhydroxyalkanoates from renewable carbon materials.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carbon / chemistry*
  • Comamonas / chemistry
  • Comamonas / growth & development
  • Comamonas / metabolism
  • Fatty Acids, Volatile / chemistry*
  • Fermentation
  • Molecular Weight
  • Nitrogen / chemistry
  • Polyesters / chemistry*
  • Polymers / chemistry*

Substances

  • Fatty Acids, Volatile
  • Polyesters
  • Polymers
  • poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-co-(3-hydroxyvalerate)
  • Carbon
  • Nitrogen