Production of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) nanoparticles using grape residues as the sole carbon source.

The production of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) on an industrial scale remains a major challenge due to its higher production cost compared to petroleum-based plastics. As a result, it is necessary to develop efficient fermentative processes using low-cost substrates and identify high-value-added applications where biodegradability and biocompatibility properties are of fundamental importance. In this study, grape residues, mainly grape skins, were used as the sole carbon source in Azotobacter vinelandii OP cultures for PHB production and subsequent nanoparticle synthesis based on the extracted polymer. The grape residue pretreatment showed a high rate of conversion into reducing sugars (fructose and glucose), achieving up to 43.3 % w w-1 without the use of acid or external heat. The cultures were grown in shake flasks, obtaining a biomass concentration of 2.9 g L-1 and a PHB accumulation of up to 37.7 % w w-1. PHB was characterized using techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The formation of emulsified PHB nanoparticles showed high stability, with a particle size between 210 and 240 nm and a zeta potential between -12 and - 15 mV over 72 h. Owing to these properties, the produced PHB nanoparticles hold significant potential for applications in drug delivery.

Alginate molecular mass produced by Azotobacter vinelandii in response to changes of the O2 transfer rate in chemostat cultures.

Alginate production by Azotobacter vinelandii growing in chemostat cultures was evaluated under different O(2) transfer rates (OTR). As a result of modifying the culture's agitation rate from 300 to 500 rpm, the OTR increased from 9 to 15.1 mmol l(-1) h(-1) and a slight variation in the alginate production (1.7-2.2 g l(-1)) was observed. At a constant growth rate (0.1 h(-1)), the mean molecular mass of the alginate was strongly influenced by changes in the OTR, varying from 860 to 1,690 kDa. These results support a possible relationship between alginate polymerization-depolymerization process and the O(2) uptake rate.

The oxygen transfer rate influences the molecular mass of the alginate produced by Azotobacter vinelandii.

The influence of oxygen transfer rate (OTR) on the molecular mass of alginate was studied. In batch cultures without dissolved oxygen tension (DOT) control and at different agitation rates, the DOT was nearly zero and the OTR was constant during biomass growth, hence the cultures were oxygen-limited. The OTR reached different maximum levels (OTR(max)) and enabled to establish various relative respiration rates. Overall, the findings showed that OTR influences alginate molecular mass. The mean molecular mass (MMM) of the alginate increased as OTR(max) decreased. The molecular mass obtained at 3.0 mmol l(-1) h(-1) was 7.0 times higher (1,560 kDa) than at 9.0 mmol l(-1) h(-1) (220 kDa). An increase in molecular mass can be a bacterial response to adverse nutritional conditions such as oxygen limitation.