The microbial biotransformation using low-cost feedstock to produce biopolymers (degradable), an alternative to petrochemical-based synthesis plastics (non-degradable), can be a beneficial approach towards sustainable development. In this study, the dairy industry processes waste (whey) is used in polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) copolymer production. Initial screening suggested that Ralstonia eutropha produced higher PHA as compared to Bacillus megaterium. A central composite rotatable design-based optimization using two process variables (amino acid and tween-80) concentration remarkably influenced PHA co-polymer production under physiological conditions of pH (7), temperature (37 °C), and agitation rate of 150 rpm. High polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) mass fraction yield of 69.3% was observed as compared to predicted yield of 62.8% from deproteinized whey as feed. The combination of tryptophan (50 mg L-1) and tween-80 (3 mL-1) enhanced R. eutropha mass gain to 6.80 g L-1 with PHB contents of 4.71 g L-1. Further, characterization of PHA and its copolymers was done by ESI-MS, FTIR, and TEM. On upscaling up to 3.0 L, the PHA contents and yields were noted as quite similar by R. eutropha. This study demonstrates that dairy waste processing waste can be potentially utilized as inexpensive feed for producing high content of biopolymers to develop a sustainable system of waste management.

Centre of Medical and Bio Allied Health Sciences Research Ajman University Ajman 13306 United Arab Emirates

Department of Animal Morphology Physiology and Genetics Faculty of AgriSciences Mendel University in Brno 61300 Brno Czech Republic

Department of Botany University of Lucknow Lucknow 226007 India

Department of Chemical Engineering Konkuk University Seoul 05029 Republic of Korea

Department of Dairy Science and Food Technology Institute of Agricultural Sciences Banaras Hindu University Varanasi Uttar Pradesh 221005 India

Department of Food and Nutrition Science Lady Irwin College Delhi University New Delhi 110001 India

Gilbert and Rose Marie Chagoury School of Medicine Lebanese American University Beirut 1102 2801 Lebanon

Research and Scientific Studies Unit College of Nursing and Health Sciences Jazan University Jazan 45142 Saudi Arabia

School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences CASS Food Research Centre Deakin University Burwood VIC 3125 Australia

Sci Rep. 2024 May 13;14(1):10919. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-61698-9. PubMed

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