title: Intracellular biopolymer productions using mixed microbial cultures from fermented POME.
abstract: This study aimed to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from organic wastes by mixed bacterial cultures using anaerobic-aerobic fermentation systems. Palm oil mill effluent (POME) was used as an organic source, which was cultivated in a two-step-process of acidogenesis and acid polymerization. POME was operated in a continuous flow anaerobic reactor to access volatile fatty acids (VFAs) for PHAs production. During fermentation, VFA concentration was produced in the range of 5 to 8 g/L and the COD concentration reduced up to 80% from 65 g/L. The VFA from anaerobic fermentation was then utilised for PHA production using a mixed culture in availability of aerobic bioreactor. Production of PHAs was recorded high when using a high volume of substrates because of the higher VFA concentration. Even though the maximum PHA content was observed at only 40% of the cell dried weight (CDW), their production and performance are significant in mixed microbial culture.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental and Water Resource Management (IPASA), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ujang
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Salim
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Md Din
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ahmad
mesh_terms: D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000378:metabolism*; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019149:Bioreactors; D000073878:Palm Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D010938:Plant Oils; D000073878:Palm Oil