PHAs Produced by Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas oleovorans Grown with n-Alkanoic Acids Containing Aromatic Groups

Abstract

Poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates), PHAs, bearing aromatic groups were biosynthesized by Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas oleovorans grown with various carbon substrates such as 5-phenylvaleric acid, 5PVA, 8-(p-methylphenoxy)octanoic acid, 8pMPO, 6-(p-methylphenoxy)hexanoic acid, 6pMPH, 8-(m-methylphenoxy)octanoic acid, 8mMPO, 8-(o-methylphenoxy)octanoic acid, 8oMPO, and 11-(p-methylphenoxy)undecanoic acid, 11pMPU. 11pMPU and 8oMPO did not support PHA production by both P. oleovorans and P. putida while other carbon substrates supported PHA production. PHAs obtained from 8-(methylphenoxy)octanoic acids contained 3-hydroxy-4-methylphenoxybutyrate and 3-hydroxy-6-methylphenoxyhexanoate units. DSC and X-ray scattering analysis indicated that PHAs biosynthesized from 5PVA and 8mMPO were amorphous while the PHA biosynthesized from 8pMPO was crystalline. PHAs biosynthesized by P. putida grown with mixtures of nonanoic acid, NA, and either 5PVA or 8pMPO were fractionated into two fractions on the basis of the solubilit...