Isolation and Characterization of Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) Producing Microorganisms from Karad Region, Maharashtra

Abstract

World population is increasing day by day and to satisfy their various needs, plastic material become part and parcel of life. Millions of tons of these non degradable plastics accumulate in the environment per year and cause hazardous effects on flora and fauna. Hence there was ever pending search for bioproduct which can substitute this nonbiodegradable plastic. Polyhydroxybutyrates (PHB) are drawing much attention as they are biodegradable, environmentally friendly, and also biocompatible bioplastics. In the present study an attempt was made to isolate and characterize the PHB producing microorganisms from Karad region of Maharashtra. Total 75 isolates obtained from soil, spent wash, pond water, dairy effluent, cow dung, soil and organic waste samples were enriched using mineral salt medium and then screened primarily for PHB producers by Sudan Black B plate staining method followed by secondary screening using Nile blue plate assay method. As a result of screening, 11 PHB producing potential isolates were obtained which were then studied for morphological, biochemical and enzymatic characters. By referring Bergeys Manual of Determinative Bacteriology and 16 S r RNA technique these 11 PHB producing isolates were identified and found from genera Bacillus, Candida, Citrobacter and Klebsiella, Staphylococcus and Rhodococcus.