OPTIMIZATION OF CULTURAL CONDITIONS FOR POLYHYDROXYBUTYRATE [PHB] PRODUCTION BY ALCALIGENES SP. FROM MANGROVE SOIL

Abstract

Polyhydroxyalkanoates [PHAs], which is produced by several bacteria, is a biodegradable polymer that has many industrial and medical applications. The present study was aimed for the isolation, characterization of biopolymer [PHB] producing bacteria from the mangrove soil and optimization of culture conditions for maximum PHB production in an attempt to reduce the production cost. PHB producing bacterium was isolated from mangrove soil and identified as Alcaligenes sp.on morphological, cultural, biochemical tests. Culture conditions for the organism were optimized by changing the parameters, viz. carbon source, nitrogen source, pH and incubation time. Results for optimized parameters for the isolated PHB positive species showed that synthesis of PHB was maximum with lactose and beef extract at pH 7 with 10% inoculum size.