MAHIR MEHRA, AMIT KAUSHIK, PRIYAM TYAGI, VINEET KASWAN1AND AARTI SHARMA*
Molecular Genetics Lab, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University,
Uttar Pradesh, Sector-125, Noida-201 301 (Uttar Pradesh), India
*(e-mail : asharma11@amity.edu)
(Received : February 28, 2017; Accepted : April 22, 2017)
ABSTRACT
Fossil-based plastics, though cheaper, damage the environment in a drastic manner. Bioplastics can be a suitable alternative to these damaging plastics but the production process proves costlier. The need of the hour, therefore, lies in promoting the commercial success of biodegradable plastics which are produced from renewable sources. Polyhydroxybutyrates (PHB) are a class of biodegradable polymers which accumulate in various Gram positive and Gram negative microorganisms. In this study, we screened 26 bacterial isolated for their ability to produce PHB and identified a gram positive PHB producing strain. We further tested the ability of this polymer to utilize molasses, a by-product of sugar cane processing, as a substrate for PHB production. The isolate was able to utilize molasses and produce 35% PHB. Thus, it made the commercial success of this polymer feasible.
Key words : Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), production, sugarcane, molasses, substrate