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http://hdl.handle.net/1783.1/1621
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| Title: | Utilization of volatile acids by Alcaligenes Eutrophus for production of biodegradable thermoplastics |
| Authors: | Yu, Jian
Ruan, Wenquan |
| Keywords: | PHA
PHB
PHBV
Biodegradable plastic
Volatile fatty acids |
| Issue Date: | 1999 |
| Citation: | Proceedings of the Asia-pacific Chemical Reaction Engineering Symposium "APCRE 99", Hong Kong SAR, China, June 13-16, 1999, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China, 1999, p. 139-144 |
| Abstract: | Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a family of polyesters formed in bacteria as a carbon or energy storage. PHA production by bacterium Alcaligenes eutrophus from acetic, propionic and butyric acids was investigated in nutrient-rich and chemically defined media by using batch and semi-batch cultures. PHA formation under nutrient-rich conditions was associated with cell growth. High acetate concentrations (5 g/L or above) inhibited both cell growth and PHA formation, but the toxic effect was reduced with increased cell mass. Both cell growth and PHA formation were linearly proportional to acetate concentration in a nontoxic concentration range. By using a semi-batch cultivation, butyric acid was controlled at a low level (20-40 mg/L) and the specific PHA formation rate was linearly proportional to the acid concentration showing no toxic effect of butyric acid in a chemically defined medium. At an ammonium concentration of 80-100 mg/L, butyric acid was used mainly for PHA formation with a little increase in active biomass. Fed with propionic acid, A. eutrophus produced a copolymer, poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate), in contrast to a homopolymer, polyhydroxybutyrate, from acetic or butyric acids. The content of hydroxyvalerate in the copolymer was around 40%. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/1783.1/1621 |
| Appears in Collections: | CBME Conference Papers
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| apcre99a.pdf | | 699Kb | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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