Biosynthesis of medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoates (mcl-PHAs) from palm oil

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Medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoates (mcl-PHAs) are biopolyesters, derived from renewable biomass resources such as palm oil. These PHAs can be converted to added value products such as biopolymers, potentially increasing the economical worth of crude palm oil. Batch experiments were set up in an orbital shaker incubator at 30 ​°C to explore the feasibility of PHAs biosynthesized by Pseudomonas aeruginosa TISTR 1287 from palm oil. P aeruginosa was cultured under varied palm oil concentrations (0.50–2.00% w v−1) and initial pH 7. The concentrations of palm oil and cultivation time influenced the growth of P. aeruginosa and intracellular accumulation of PHAs. Maximum cell dry weight of 2.33 g ​L−1 was obtained at 0.50% w v−1 palm oil after at 44-hr cultivation. The maximum PHAs concentration of 0.65 g ​L−1 and content was 38.02% at 0.75% w v−1 palm oil after 72-hr cultivation. Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) spectra indicated the biopolyesters are mcl-PHAs with heterogenous types of monomers. The findings showed the palm oil is a good economical, renewable feedstock of carbon for production of mcl-PHAs by P. aeruginosa.