Bioproduction, statistical optimization and characterization of microbial plastic (poly 3-hydroxy butyrate) employing various hydrolysates of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) as sole carbon source

Saccharified water hyacinth hydrolysates (acid and enzyme hydrolysate) were used for the efficient production of poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) via the Cupriavidus necator bacteria. The bacterium significantly utilizes the enzymatic hydrolyzate which gave the maximum PHB concentration (4.3 ± 0.4 g L−1), this was greatly exceeded the value of 2 ± 0.1 g L−1 obtained from the acid hydrolysate amended media. Moreover, for the optimal PHB production, response surface methodology was used through central composite rotary design method which gave improved PHB concentration in microbial cells. After 72 h, 35 g L−1 of reducing sugar contained water hyacinth hydrolysate and 1.5 g L−1 of (NH4)2SO4 supplementation in laboratory scale fermentor gave 12 g L−1 of dry cell weight and 7 g L−1 of PHB. The produced PHB was characterized under FTIR, GPC and DSC instruments to find out the number average molecular mass, polydispersity index and melting temperature were 1.7 × 105 kDa, 1.9 and 170 °C respectively.