Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) bioproduction in a two-step sequential process using wastewater. (February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Carlozzi, Pietro; Giovannelli, Alessio; Traversi, Maria Laura; Touloupakis, Eleftherios
• Is Part Of: Journal of water process engineering. Volume 39(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-02
• Subjects: Rhodovulum sulfidophilum -- Lactobacillus sp. -- Polyhydroxyalkanoates -- Cheese whey -- Photobioreactor; Water-supply engineering -- Periodicals; Saline water conversion -- Periodicals; Seawater -- Distillation -- Periodicals; Sanitary engineering -- Periodicals; Sewage -- Purification -- Periodicals; 627
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2020.101700
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-7144

Abstract

Highlights: Two consecutive bioprocess-steps for bioplastic production. Cheese whey agro-industrial byproduct as a feedstock for Lactobacillus fermentation. Cheese-whey fermented effluent for feeding a marine purple non-sulfur bacterium. Lactobacillus sp . and Rhodovulum sulfidophilum to realize a new circular bioeconomy. Abstract: In the present study, a cheese whey agro-industrial byproduct was utilized as a natural feedstock for bioplastic production. The bioprocess consisted of a fermentative lactic acid production (step 1) and a following photofermentative poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) production (step 2). During step 1, the bacterium Lactobacillus sp. converted lactose (contained in cheese whey) into lactic acid. During step 2, the marine bacterium Rhodovulum sulfidophilum DSM-1374 converted lactic acid, contained in the cheese-whey fermented effluent (CW FE), in bioplastic. In this investigation, the CW FE produced during step 1 showed a lactic acid content of 29.5 ± 1.3 g/L. When, for feeding Rhodovulum sulfidophilum DSM-1374, was utilized CW FE diluted with water (50 %, v/v ) the highest poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) content (67 ± 3.1 % of bacterial dry-biomass) was observed. Both bioprocess steps can significantly contribute to realize a circular bioeconomy able to cut down the costs of bioplastic production and reduce the environmental impact caused by the intensive human feed and food productions.