Production of filmable medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates produced from glycerol by Pseudomonas mediterranea

Int J Biol Macromol. 2014 Apr:65:89-96. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2014.01.014. Epub 2014 Jan 10.

Abstract

Glycerol is an effective carbon source for the production of scl- and mcl-polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) by Pseudomonas spp. P. mediterranea 9.1 (CFBP 5447) synthesizes an amorphous mcl-PHA when grown on crude glycerol, whereas on both reagent grade (RG) and partially refined (PR) glycerol, it produces two very similar distinctive mcl-PHAs with the unusual property of producing, with the appropriate treatment, a transparent film. Mcl-PHAs recovered after biomass extraction have an average molecular weight of approximately 56,000/63,000 Da. The monomer composition and physicochemical properties of such mcl-PHAs suggest their potential application as a softener of biopolymeric blends for food packaging and medical devices.

Keywords: Glycerol; Pseudomonas mediterranea; mcl-PHA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry*
  • Biocompatible Materials / metabolism*
  • Chemical Phenomena
  • Glycerol / metabolism*
  • Mechanical Phenomena
  • Molecular Weight
  • Polyesters / chemistry
  • Polyhydroxyalkanoates / biosynthesis*
  • Polyhydroxyalkanoates / chemistry*
  • Pseudomonas / metabolism*
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Polyesters
  • Polyhydroxyalkanoates
  • Glycerol