Evaluation of Bacterial Growth Ability and PHA Production Using Various Combinations of Fatty Acids

Abstract

The present study explains the growth pattern and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production capacity of Bacillus sp. CYR1 as it uses various fatty acids as carbon sources. Various combinations of fatty acids were used for the growth of strain CYR1. Among them, strain CYR1 showed good growth with the combination of two fatty acids (acetic acid and butyric acid) and the combination of three fatty acids (acetic acid, propionic acid, and caproic acid). Apart from the growth pattern, PHA production was also evaluated. PHA production was in coordination with the growth pattern. Bacteria incubated with the combination of acetic acid–butyric acid produced 0.158 g/L, and acetic acid–propionic acid–caproic acid produced 0.241 g/L of PHA. It is essential to reduce the substrate cost for PHA production by replacing expensive carbon sources with wastewater. The organic compounds in domestic and industrial wastewater contain various fatty acids. By studying different combinations of fatty acids, we gained new insights into utilizing wastewater containing various fatty acids as substrates for PHA production.

Keywords

• <i>Bacillus</i> sp. CYR1
• fatty acids
• PHA
• reuse
• wastewater