Polyhydroxyalkanoate biosynthesis and characterization from optimized medium utilizing distillery effluent usingBacillus endophyticusMTCC 9021: a statistical approach

Use of expensive raw material and inefficient extraction method has limited the production of biopolymers at pilot scale compared to commercial plastics. Hence, this research work spotlights on production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) usingBacillus endophyticusMTCC 9021 in different dilutions of untreated distillery effluent (10-25%) among which 10% dilutions exhibited maximum PHA production. Statistical optimization through Response surface methodology yielded a maximum PHA of 6.45 +/- 0.07 g/L. The obtained PHA was analysed by FTIR and NMR which confirms the polymer to be polyhydroxybutyrate. The extracted PHA was reduced to nanoscale to develop PHA nanosheet which exposed higher oil absorption and retention ability than normal PHA sheet. Further the rapid degradation of PHA nanosheet with synthetic plastics in garden soil emphasises their unique application in wide sectors.

Automated summary

This research focuses on the production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) using Bacillus endophyticus MTCC 9021 in different dilutions of untreated distillery effluent, achieving a maximum PHA production through statistical optimization. The extracted PHA was transformed into nanosheets with higher oil absorption and retention ability than normal PHA sheets, demonstrating rapid degradation when exposed to synthetic plastics in garden soil.