Production of PHB (polyhydroxybutyrate) by rhodopseudomonas palustris KU003 under nitrogen limitation.

ABSTRACT

A survey of various tannery effluents for the presence of purple non-sulphur bacteria was undertaken in Warangal district of South India. In all the nine bacterial species, which included Rhodopseudomonas palustris, R.rutila, R.acdiophila, Rhodopila globiformis, Rhodospirillum rubrum, Rsp.photometricum, Rhodobacter sphaeroides, Rb.capsulatus, Rhodobacter sp and Rhodocyclus gelatinosus were isolated. Among these Rhodopseudomonas palustris KU003 was selected for the production of Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). Effect of nitrogen limitation on the production of PHB was tested. PHB accumulation was more at a nitrogen limitation of 78 mg/L of ammonium chloride. The maximum PHB produced was 180 mg/L of BP medium containing glucose as carbon source. Significance of the above in the light of existing literature is discussed in this communication.