Effects of Cell Fermentation Time and Biomass Drying Strategies on the Recovery of Poly(β-hydroxybutrate) from Ralstonia eutropha Using Supecritical Disruptron

This investigation concentrates on the rupture of the Gram-negative bacterium R. eutropha by supercritical CO2 for recovery of poly(β-hydroxybutrate) (PHB). The parameters affecting cell disruption such as operating pressure, temperature, volume of modifier, as well as the effect of culture age and drying strategies were studied. Bacterial cultures which were grown in the logarithmic phase exhibited less resistance to rupture than nutrient limited cultures in the stationary phase. Experiments also indicated that the wet biomass could be utilized to recover PHB, but purity of the product was lower than using lyphilized biomass.

Keywords:

Poly (β-hydroxy butyrate) (PHB) , Recovery , Supercritical Disruption , Ralstonia eutropha