Biosynthesis of PHB, a New Packaging Material by Methane-Utilizing Mixed Culture HD6T

Abstract

Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) has already become the hot spot research in food packaging area because of its excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability as a kind of new plastic substitute. The Methane-Utilizing mixed Culture HD6T is able to synthesize PHB with methane in an open system. In order to obtain microbial species of high production PHB low carbon cost in an open system, the ability of accumulating PHB was studied. Through inspecting the culture medium component, the results indicated that: Cultivation was performed in two stages: a continuous growth phase and a PHB accumulation phase under different concentration of essential nutrient (ammonium, nitrate, magnesium or copper) in batch culture. The highest density of cultivated cells was 0.72g dry wtL-1, and PHB content of biomass was as high as 31%.A bacterial mixed culture being used for the biotechnological production of PHB is an important step towards the development of a viable large-scale process for the production of PHB using cheap substrates like methane.content of biomass was as high as 31%.A bacterial mixed culture being used for the biotechnological production of PHB is an important step towards the development of a viable large-scale process for the production of PHB using cheap substrates like methane.