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Sustainable production of biopolymer polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) from Nocardiopsis Alba using agro-waste substrates
Summary
This paper reviews sustainable production pathways for polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a naturally occurring bioplastic synthesized by microorganisms. It examines feedstock selection, microbial strains, and fermentation conditions that reduce the cost and environmental footprint of PHB manufacturing. PHB is highlighted as a promising biodegradable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics.
The increasing environmental burden caused by petroleum-based plastics has intensified the search for sustainable and biodegradable alternatives such as polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). In the present study, an actinomycete isolate designated EMBBAC21 was obtained from the Pichavaram mangrove ecosystem and identified as Nocardiopsis alba based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The isolate was evaluated for its ability to produce PHB using low-cost agro-waste substrates, including tapioca peel, banana peel, palm sprout peel, red pumpkin peel, and beetroot peel, as sole carbon sources. Among the tested substrates, tapioca peel supported the highest PHB production (1.83±0.15 g L⁻¹), followed by banana peel (1.73±0.06 g L⁻¹). One-way ANOVA revealed highly significant differences in PHB production among substrates. PHB production was confirmed by crotonic acid assay and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, which revealed characteristic ester-linked (C-O-C) and aliphatic C-H functional groups of PHB. Overall, the study demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing agro-waste substrates for sustainable PHB production by Nocardiopsis alba, highlighting its potential as an alternative microbial platform for eco-friendly biopolymer synthesis.