Fermentation Studies for the Production of Dibutyl Phthalate, an Ester Bioactive Compound from Streptomyces albidoflavus MTCC 3662 Using Low-Priced Substrates

Attempts were made to evaluate the limiting nutritional parameters for production of dibutyl phthalate from Streptomyces albidoflavus MTCC 3662. The compound was found as a broad spectrum bioactive compound that acts as an antimetabolite of proline. Among the carbon and nitrogen sources tested in batch fermentation, glycerol (1.75%) and arginine (0.075%) supported best production. Arginine was replaced with sodium nitrate (0.025%) in the later studied due to its low cost, easy availability and as well as for good production capability. Other limiting nutrients, KH2PO4 0.05%, NaCl 0.15% and MgSO4 0.03% were found best for production. Effect of trace salts in the basal medium was also tested. Medium supplementation with casein hydrolysate, jaggery and yeast extract (0.001%, each) enhanced the production. Yield enhancement was also observed with Tween-80 (0.2μg/ml). Optimization of nutritional parameters imparts enhancement of production by 2.4 fold, using low cost substrates.