Polymer production by bacterial strains isolated from activated sludge treating municipal wastewater.
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) accumulating bacteria were isolated from activated sludge samples collected from municipal wastewater treatment plants in Quebec. Twelve bacterial strains were screened for PHA production with acetate as sole carbon source. PHA granules exhibited a strong orange fluorescence when stained with Nile blue A observed under microscope (X100x). PHA was also analyzed by Gas Chromatography Linked to Mass Spectroscopy (GCMS) to further confirm the presence and the concentration of PHA. To compare the abilities of these PHA accumulating bacterial strains, synthetic media with acetate as carbon source was prepared to accumulate PHA in 500 mL Erlenmeyer flask containing 150 of the medium. These flasks were then inoculated with the isolated bacterial strains, incubated at 25 degrees C for 48 hours in a rotary shaker at 220 rpm. The results showed that the bacterial strains isolated from sludge possess different abilities for accumulating PHA. The maximum PHA content of 27.50% was obtained by strain PHA-SB3. The PHB/PHV ratio of the copolymer produced in the study changed in accordance with operating time and strains.
Yan
S
S
Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre Eau, Terre & Environnement, Université du Québec, 490 de la Couronne, Québec, G1K 9A9, Canada.
Subramanian
S Bala
SB
Tyagi
R D
RD
Surampalli
R Y
RY
D000085:Acetates / Q000378:metabolism; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D054813:Polyhydroxyalkanoates / Q000378:metabolism*; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology*
D000085:Acetates; D054813:Polyhydroxyalkanoates; D012722:Sewage