In Situ Quantification of Polyhydroxybutyrate in Photobioreactor Cultivations of Synechocystis sp. Using an Ultrasound-Enhanced ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy Probe.

Philipp Doppler,Ardita Ferizi,Ricarda Kriechbaum,Christoph Gasser,Oliver Spadiut

doi:10.3390/bioengineering8090129

Abstract

Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is a very promising alternative to most petroleum-based plastics with the huge advantage of biodegradability. Biotechnological production processes utilizing cyanobacteria as sustainable source of PHB require fast in situ process analytical technology (PAT) tools for sophisticated process monitoring. Spectroscopic probes supported by ultrasound particle traps provide a powerful technology for in-line, nondestructive, and real-time process analytics in photobioreactors. This work shows the great potential of using ultrasound particle manipulation to improve spectroscopic attenuated total reflection Fourier-transformed mid-infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectra as a monitoring tool for PHB production processes in photobioreactors.

Highlights

Every day, huge quantities of petroleum-based plastics are produced
PHB is accumulated by some cyanobacterial species as carbon and energy storage compound [6,7,8]. It is produced during nutrient starvation or other stress-inducing factors [9,10]. The reason these bioplastics from cyanobacteria did not find their way into applications yet is that scaling-up the production processes is challenging
In situ quantification tools used as process analytical technology (PAT) to determine the PHB

Summary

Introduction

The majority is for single-use purposes, not recycled and not biodegradable Their production and disposal by incineration releases high amounts of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2 ) into the atmosphere. In times of serious climate change, the Paris Agreement on limiting global warming, the single-use plastics ban of the European Union, and other initiatives to avoid accumulation of plastics all over the planet, research on new technologies and materials is essential [2]. PHB is accumulated by some cyanobacterial species as carbon and energy storage compound [6,7,8] It is produced during nutrient starvation (nitrogen or phosphorus) or other stress-inducing factors [9,10]. Attenuated total reflection Fourier-transformed mid-infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy can be used to quantify the amount of PHB or glycogen accumulated within the cell [16]

Methods

Results

Conclusion