Production of polyhydroxyalkanoates from waste frying oil by Cupriavidus necator

Rob Aj Verlinden,Melvin A Kenward,David J Hill,Iza K Radecka,Zofia Piotrowska-Seget,Craig D Williams

doi:10.1186/2191-0855-1-11

Rob Aj Verlinden, Melvin A Kenward + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/2191-0855-1-11

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Journal: AMB Express	Publication Date: Jun 10, 2011
Citations: 179	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: University of Wolverhampton, University of Silesia

Abstract

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biopolymers, which can replace petrochemical plastics in many applications. However, these bioplastics are currently far more expensive than petrochemical plastics. Many researchers are investigating the use of inexpensive substrates derived from waste streams. Waste frying oil is abundant and can be used in PHA production without filtration.Cupriavidus necator (formerly known as Ralstonia eutropha) is a versatile organism for the production of PHAs. Small-scale batch fermentation studies have been set up, using different concentrations of pure vegetable oil, heated vegetable oil and waste frying oil. These oils are all rapeseed oils.It has been shown that Cupriavidus necator produced the homopolymer polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) from the rapeseed oils. The achieved PHB concentration from waste frying oil was 1.2 g/l, which is similar to a concentration that can be obtained from glucose. The PHB harvest from pure oil and heated oil was 0.62 g/l and 0.9 g/l respectively. A feed of waste frying oil could thus achieve more biopolymer than pure vegetable oil. While the use of a waste product is beneficial from a life-cycle perspective, PHB is not the only product that can be made from waste oil. The collection of waste frying oil is becoming more widespread, making waste oil a good alternative to purified oil or glucose for PHB production.

Highlights

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are natural, renewable and biocompatible biopolymers, produced intracellular in bacteria
PHB levels are decreasing after this time, due to utilisation of PHB as a carbon source in the metabolism (Figure 1c)
While the most PHB is produced in a fermentation with waste oil (1.2 g/l was achieved after 72 hours), only 0.62

Summary

Introduction

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are natural, renewable and biocompatible biopolymers, produced intracellular in bacteria. They can be made into plastic materials with properties that are similar to petrochemical plastics and can replace these materials in many applications (Philip et al 2007,). The high production cost of biopolymers and the availability of low-cost petrochemical equivalents make polyhydroxyalkanoates economically unattractive. Concern over plastic waste and increasing environmental awareness has put bioplastics into the attention of research and industry. In order to make the production of PHAs economically more attractive, the use of inexpensive substrates has been. Waste streams from oil mills or used oils, which are even cheaper than purified oils can be used too (Fernández et al 2005,; Mumtaz et al 2010)

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