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Model-Based Nutrient Feeding Strategies for the Increased Production of Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) by Alcaligenes latus

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology volume 183, pages 530–542 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable polymers which are considered as an effective alternative for conventional plastics due to their mechanical properties similar to the latter. However, the widespread use of these polymers is still hampered due to their higher cost of production as compared to plastics. The production cost could be overcome by obtaining high yields and productivity. The goal of the present research was to enhance the yield of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) with the help of two simple fed-batch cultivation strategies. In the present study, average batch kinetic and substrate limitation/inhibition study data of Alcaligenes latus was used for the development of PHB model which was then adopted for designing various off-line nutrient feeding strategies to enhance PHB accumulation. The predictive ability of the model was validated by experimental implementation of two fed-batch strategies. One such dynamic strategy of fed-batch cultivation under pseudo-steady state with respect to nitrogen and simultaneous carbon feeding strategy resulted in significantly high biomass and PHB concentration of 39.17 g/L and 29.64 g/L, respectively. This feeding strategy demonstrated a high PHB productivity and PHB content of 0.6 g/L h and 75%, respectively, which were remarkably high in comparison to batch cultivation. The mathematical model can also be employed for designing various other nutrient feeding strategies.

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Acknowledgements

The Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) award by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India, New Delhi, for the execution of the project is gratefully acknowledged by one of the authors (Ms. Geeta Gahlawat).

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  1. Geeta Gahlawat

    Present address: Department of Microbiology, Panjab University, Sector-25, Chandigarh, 160014, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, 110016, India

    Geeta Gahlawat & Ashok K. Srivastava

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  1. Geeta Gahlawat
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  2. Ashok K. Srivastava
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Correspondence to Ashok K. Srivastava.

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Gahlawat, G., Srivastava, A.K. Model-Based Nutrient Feeding Strategies for the Increased Production of Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) by Alcaligenes latus . Appl Biochem Biotechnol 183, 530–542 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-017-2482-8

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Keywords

  • Polyhydroxybutyrate
  • Alcaligenes latus
  • Kinetic modeling
  • Nutrient feeding
  • Pseudo-steady state