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Accumulation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) by Azotobacter vinelandii with different 3HV fraction in shake flasks and bioreactor

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Abstract

In the present study, the production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3–hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) by Azotobacter vinelandii was evaluated in shake flasks and bioreactors, utilizing different precursors and oxygen transfer rates (OTRs). In shake flask cultures, the highest PHBV yield from sucrose (0.16 g g–1) and 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) fraction in the PHA chain (27.4 mol%) were obtained with valerate (1.0 g L−1). In the bioreactor, the cultures were grown under oxygen-limited conditions, and the maximum OTR (OTRmax) was varied by adjusting the agitation rate. In the cultures grown at low OTRmax (4.3 mmol L−1 h−1), the intracellular content of PHBV (73% w w−1) was improved, whereas a maximum 3HV fraction (35 mol %) was obtained when a higher OTRmax (17.2 mmol L−1 h−1, to 600 rpm) was employed. The findings obtained suggest that the PHBV production and the content of 3HV incorporated into the polymer were affected by the OTR. Based on the evidence, it is possible to produce PHBV with a different composition by varying the OTR of the culture; thus, the approach in this study could be used to scale up PHBV production.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge support from CONICYT-FONDECYT Postdoctoral project 3180406 (VU) and CONICYT-FONDECYT Regular project 1170896 (AD). The authors would like to thank to the Regional Center for Studies in Healthy Food (CREAS) for their support in with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and Ph.D. German Aroca for support Elite-5MS column for GC–MS.

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  1. Escuela de Ingeniería Bioquímica, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Av. Brasil 2147 Casilla 4059, Valparaíso, Chile

    Viviana Urtuvia, Nataly Maturana & Alvaro Díaz-Barrera

  2. Departamento de Ingeniería Celular y Biocatálisis, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México

    Carlos Peña

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  1. Viviana Urtuvia
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Correspondence to Alvaro Díaz-Barrera.

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Urtuvia, V., Maturana, N., Peña, C. et al. Accumulation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) by Azotobacter vinelandii with different 3HV fraction in shake flasks and bioreactor. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 43, 1469–1478 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-020-02340-6

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