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Isolation and Characterisation of Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) Producing Bacteria for Sustainable Bioplastic Development
Summary
This paper isolates and characterizes bacterial strains capable of synthesizing polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a naturally occurring bioplastic stored as an energy reserve by certain microorganisms. Researchers identified promising bacterial candidates and assessed their PHB yield and production conditions. These findings support ongoing efforts to develop microbially produced bioplastics as biodegradable alternatives to conventional petroleum-based polymers.
Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a biodegradable biopolymer produced by certain bacteria, is one of the sustainable alternatives being sought after due to the growing environmental burden posed by traditional plastics. In this study, environmental samples were taken from Dumas Beach and Kholwad College Garden in South Gujarat in order to isolate, identify, and optimize PHB-producing bacterial strains. Using the Carbol Fuchsin, Sudan Black B, and Nile Blue A staining methods, a total of 25 bacterial isolates were acquired and tested. Based on morphological, biochemical, and staining investigations, two strains—Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp.—were determined to be effective PHB producers. Molasses, leftover cooking oil, orange and potato peels, and other low-cost carbon sources were assessed for PHB production. The largest PHB concentration was found in potato peels, where Pseudomonas spp. could reach 89%. PHB yield was considerably increased by a pH of 7, a temperature of 37°C, and shaking conditions, according to the results of production parameter optimization. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), which showed distinctive peaks of ester carbonyl and C–H functional groups, verified that the isolated polymer was PHB. This research highlights the potential of using regionally isolated bacteria and agro-waste materials for low-cost, eco-friendly PHB production. These findings support sustainable bioplastic development and offer promising avenues for industrial-scale biopolymer synthesis using locally sourced resources.