Isolation of polyhydroxyalkanoate producing bacteria from brackish water in Universiti Malaysia Terengganu

Abstract

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is a type of biodegradable plastic which can be synthesized by bacteria under limited nutrient and excess carbon source. Approximately 11 strains isolated from brackish water in University Malaysia Terengganu canal were screened to determine potential PHA production using Nile red dye. Results showed three strains, Massilia haematophila, Mangrovibacter plantisponsor, and Novosphingobium panipatense, were produced poly(3- hydroxybutyrate), P(3HB), a common PHA. These strains were tested for the production of P(3HB) using three renewable carbon sources, which are glucose, sweetwater and glycerol. Massilia haematophila produced 33.75 ± 4.49 wt% and 9.83 ± 1.60 wt% P(3HB) from glucose and glycerol respectively. Massilia plantisponsor produced 12.14 ± 3.52 wt% from glucose, and N. panipatense produced 10.53 ± 3.2 wt% P(3HB) when supplemented with sweetwater. P(3HB) polymer in M haematophila and M plantisponsor freeze-dried cell pellets were extracted using solvent extraction method. All strains showed ability in converting industrial waste or by-products to valuable biodegradable material as a more beneficial approach in waste management.