Vol. 6, Issue 11 (2017)

Author(s):
MD Bala Kumaran, R Santhi and S Jagadeeswari

Abstract:

Agro industrial residues considered as agro-wastes, generated during the processing of crops are produced in large quantities every year worldwide. Major quantities of these on-farm agricultural residues are burnt in the field itself. Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), well known macromolecule naturally produced by many species of microorganisms, is being considered as a replacement for conventional plastics; however, the major drawback in PHB commercialization falls due to its high production cost. In the present study agro residues such as wheat bran and rice bran were studied as a cost effective substrate for the replacement of carbon source for the production of PHB using B. subtilis. The agro residues were initially hydrolyzed; different concentrations were amended in the minimal salt medium and investigated for PHB production. Several parameters such as incubation time, pH, temperature were optimized prior to the addition of agro residues for the production of PHB. The PHB produced were partially purified and further characterized using FTIR analysis. The results showed that the agro residues are found to be potential suitable substrate for the replacement of carbon source during the production of PHB.