Environmental Friendly Alternative Methods for the Recovery of Intracellular Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are intracellular polymers that can be produced by bacteria as energy reserve material. This biodegradable material has properties similar to synthetic thermoplastics. However, the process recovery of PHA using organic solvents such as chloroform is expensive and not e...

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Main Author: Voon, Pooi Tee
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: 2005
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Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/5954/1/FBSB_2005_28%20IR.pdf
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spelling my-upm-ir.59542022-02-10T03:37:50Z Environmental Friendly Alternative Methods for the Recovery of Intracellular Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) 2005-05 Voon, Pooi Tee Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are intracellular polymers that can be produced by bacteria as energy reserve material. This biodegradable material has properties similar to synthetic thermoplastics. However, the process recovery of PHA using organic solvents such as chloroform is expensive and not environmental-friendly. Although most of the organic solvent is recovered for reuse, it still causes serious damage to health and environment. Thus, alternative methods that are environmental-friendly are needed for the recovery of PHA. Fermentation was carried out using a 50 L bioreactor at pH 7, 30°C, with agitation speed of 200 rpm and 1 vvm aeration rate to maintain aerobic condition. Ralstonia eutropha ATCC 17699 was chosen as the PHA production bacteria. Twenty g/L mixture of acetic and propionic acids were fed into the broth as carbon sources and PHA was produced in nitrogen limited condition with C/N = 50. Cells were harvested by centrifugation and the pellets were then dried in oven at 60°C, grinded and stored at 4OC for recovery of PHA. Biomass containing PHA with the concentration of 0.32 glg biomass was treated with various chemicals such as alkaline solutions (NaOH, KOH), surfactants (sodium dodecyl sulfate or SDS, sodium salt of a-sulfonate methyl esters derived from palm stearin or a-SMEPS, Tween 20, Tween 80 and betaine anhydrous) and enzyme (lysozyme) to digest non-PHA cellular material (NPCM) at dried cells concentration of 5 g/L. Mechanical methods such as ultrasonic sonication and homogenization were also used for further cell disruption. Combined treatment of alkali and homogenization was also investigated. After treatment, PHA granules were separated from cell debris by centrifugation at 3500 rpm for 10 min. PHA granules recovered were rinsed twice with deionized water to avoid floatation, centrifuged and air-dried. Pellet was analyzed by using HPLC and supernatant was analyzed by the presence of protein. Combined treatment of NaOH and homogenization were found to give the highest PHA purity and yield of 97% and 94%, respectively, compared to other methods. The purity of the final PHA increased with the released of cellular protein. PHA could be recovered from biomass by combined NaOH pretreatment, (0.2 M, 60 min) and homogenization (18 min) to achieve cell disruption. This method is simple, economical, environmental friendly, non-toxic and suitable for larger scale production. The product obtained was white in colour and ready to be accepted by end user for commercialization. Thus, combined NaOH treatment and homogenization can replace chloroform for the recovery of PHA. Polymers - Biodegradation - Environmental aspects 2005-05 Thesis http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/5954/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/5954/1/FBSB_2005_28%20IR.pdf text en public masters Universiti Putra Malaysia Polymers - Biodegradation - Environmental aspects Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomokular Sciences Hassan, Mohd Ali
institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
collection PSAS Institutional Repository
language English
advisor Hassan, Mohd Ali
topic Polymers - Biodegradation - Environmental aspects


spellingShingle Polymers - Biodegradation - Environmental aspects


Voon, Pooi Tee
Environmental Friendly Alternative Methods for the Recovery of Intracellular Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)
description Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are intracellular polymers that can be produced by bacteria as energy reserve material. This biodegradable material has properties similar to synthetic thermoplastics. However, the process recovery of PHA using organic solvents such as chloroform is expensive and not environmental-friendly. Although most of the organic solvent is recovered for reuse, it still causes serious damage to health and environment. Thus, alternative methods that are environmental-friendly are needed for the recovery of PHA. Fermentation was carried out using a 50 L bioreactor at pH 7, 30°C, with agitation speed of 200 rpm and 1 vvm aeration rate to maintain aerobic condition. Ralstonia eutropha ATCC 17699 was chosen as the PHA production bacteria. Twenty g/L mixture of acetic and propionic acids were fed into the broth as carbon sources and PHA was produced in nitrogen limited condition with C/N = 50. Cells were harvested by centrifugation and the pellets were then dried in oven at 60°C, grinded and stored at 4OC for recovery of PHA. Biomass containing PHA with the concentration of 0.32 glg biomass was treated with various chemicals such as alkaline solutions (NaOH, KOH), surfactants (sodium dodecyl sulfate or SDS, sodium salt of a-sulfonate methyl esters derived from palm stearin or a-SMEPS, Tween 20, Tween 80 and betaine anhydrous) and enzyme (lysozyme) to digest non-PHA cellular material (NPCM) at dried cells concentration of 5 g/L. Mechanical methods such as ultrasonic sonication and homogenization were also used for further cell disruption. Combined treatment of alkali and homogenization was also investigated. After treatment, PHA granules were separated from cell debris by centrifugation at 3500 rpm for 10 min. PHA granules recovered were rinsed twice with deionized water to avoid floatation, centrifuged and air-dried. Pellet was analyzed by using HPLC and supernatant was analyzed by the presence of protein. Combined treatment of NaOH and homogenization were found to give the highest PHA purity and yield of 97% and 94%, respectively, compared to other methods. The purity of the final PHA increased with the released of cellular protein. PHA could be recovered from biomass by combined NaOH pretreatment, (0.2 M, 60 min) and homogenization (18 min) to achieve cell disruption. This method is simple, economical, environmental friendly, non-toxic and suitable for larger scale production. The product obtained was white in colour and ready to be accepted by end user for commercialization. Thus, combined NaOH treatment and homogenization can replace chloroform for the recovery of PHA.
format Thesis
qualification_level Master's degree
author Voon, Pooi Tee
author_facet Voon, Pooi Tee
author_sort Voon, Pooi Tee
title Environmental Friendly Alternative Methods for the Recovery of Intracellular Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)
title_short Environmental Friendly Alternative Methods for the Recovery of Intracellular Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)
title_full Environmental Friendly Alternative Methods for the Recovery of Intracellular Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)
title_fullStr Environmental Friendly Alternative Methods for the Recovery of Intracellular Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)
title_full_unstemmed Environmental Friendly Alternative Methods for the Recovery of Intracellular Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)
title_sort environmental friendly alternative methods for the recovery of intracellular polyhydroxyalkanoates (pha)
granting_institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
granting_department Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomokular Sciences
publishDate 2005
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/5954/1/FBSB_2005_28%20IR.pdf
_version_ 1747810515571179520