Production of PHB with a high molecular mass from methane

Abstract

The methanotrophic strain Methylocystis sp. GB 25 DSM 7674 is able to accumulate Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) in a short non-sterile process. The PHB content of biomass was up to 51%; effectivity was highest during the first 5 h of fermentation. The PHB yield relative to consumed methane was estimated at 0.54 g PHB/g CH 4. The PHB produced is of a very high quality i.e. it has a high molecular weight of up to 2.3 MDa.