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International Journal of Environmental Research
University of Tehran
ISSN: 1735-6865
EISSN: 1735-6865
Vol. 4, No. 3, 2010, pp. 519-524
Bioline Code: er10058
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge

International Journal of Environmental Research, Vol. 4, No. 3, 2010, pp. 519-524

 en Effective utilization and management of coir industrial waste for the production of poly-β - hydroxybutyrate (PHB) using the bacterium Azotobacter beijerinickii check for this species in other resources
Prabu, Sathesh C. & Murugesan, A. G.

Abstract

Coir pith, a byproduct of coconut fibers and waste material from the coir industry, is stable and not easily degradable due to its high lignin content. Coir pith takes a decade to decompose thereby posing environmental hazard and disposal problem. Pollution by plastics creates an alternative solution to reduce problems. Hence the potential use of coir industrial wastes for production of bioplastics (Poly-(-hydroxybutyrate - PHB) as an alternative to plastics was studied. Commercial production of this polymer is limited, however, due to higher cost and longer fermentation process as compared to petrochemical plastics. These concerned make it necessary to use the cheapest and readily available raw materials. Azotobacter beijerinickii check for this species in other resources used coir industrial waste as a substrate and produced PHB. Production of PHB was maximized at pH 6.5 with 3% coir hydrolysate. The amount of PHB produced by A. beijerinickii was 2.4 ± 0.2 g/L. The yield was 48.19 %. Production of PHB was confirmed by Sudan black B staining under a light microscope, acridine orange staining under a fluorescent microscope and by an infrared spectrometer. This investigation showed that coir industrial waste could be effectively used for the production of PHB.

Keywords
Biopolymer, Bioplastic, PHB, Coir waste, Azotobacter beijerinickii

 
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