Biotechnological conversion of agro-industrial wastewaters into biodegradable plastic, poly beta-hydroxybutyrate

Bioresour Technol. 2007 Dec;98(18):3579-84. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2006.11.024. Epub 2007 Jan 5.

Abstract

Waste activated sludge generated from a combined dairy and food processing industry wastewater treatment plant was evaluated for its potential to produce biodegradable plastic, poly beta-hydroxybutyric acid (PHB). Deproteinized jowar grain-based distillery spentwash yielded 42.3% PHB production (w/w), followed by filtered rice grain-based distillery spentwash (40% PHB) when used as substrates. Addition of di-ammonium hydrogen phosphate (DAHP) resulted in an increase in PHB production to 67% when raw rice grain-based spentwash was used. Same wastewater, after removal of suspended solids by filtration and with DAHP supplementation resulted in lower PHB production (57.9%). However, supplementing other wastes with DAHP led to a substantial decrease in PHB content in comparison to what was observed in the absence of DAHP.

MeSH terms

  • Agriculture*
  • Conservation of Natural Resources*
  • Food Industry
  • Hydroxybutyrates / chemistry*
  • Industrial Waste*
  • Oryza / chemistry
  • Plastics
  • Polyesters / chemistry*
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods*

Substances

  • Hydroxybutyrates
  • Industrial Waste
  • Plastics
  • Polyesters
  • poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate