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Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate Production by Fast-Growing Rhizobia Cultivated in Sludge and in Industrial Wastewater

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Abstract

In our study, the potential of producing polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) by cultivating fast-growing rhizobia (Sinorhizobium meliloti, Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae, R. leguminosarum bv. phaseoli and R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii) in sludge and in industrial wastewater was evaluated. Results confirmed the possibility of using sludge as media for rhizobial growth. During growth, substantial quantity of PHB was accumulated and yields varied depending on the media and rhizobial species. Growing in sludge, PHB production did not exceed 3.7% w/w for all strains at the end of experiment (after 72 h). During the growth of S. meliloti, PHB yield varied and the maximum value reached 7.27% w/w after 60 h, with 1% Total Suspend Solid (TSS) sludge. Alkaline sludge pre-treatment affects rhizobial growth but did not improve the PHB accumulation. While growing S. meliloti in industrial wastewater, the PHB yields varied and the highest value was obtained with slaughterhouse wastewater (10.7% w/w) after 35 h of growth. Therefore, this work shows the potential of exploiting PHB production by rhizobia growing in wastewater or sludge which could be applied to bioplastic industry, and confirms the potential of these recyclable wastes for high production of rhizobial cells useable for legumes inoculants production. This study provides an environmentally sound way of sludge and wastewater management and use in diverse biotechnological applications.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer—Sfax, B.P. 1035, Sfax, 3018, Tunisia

    Faouzi Ben Rebah

  2. Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada, Quebec, QC, G1V 2J3, Canada

    Danielle Prévost

  3. INRS-Eau, Terre et Environnement, 490 rue de la Couronne, Quebec, QC, G1K 9A9, Canada

    Rajeshwar Dayal Tyagi

  4. Laboratory of Applied Genetics, Department of Agronomy, School of Engineering of Lullier, 150 Route de Presinge, 1254, Jussy, Switzerland

    Lassaad Belbahri

Authors
  1. Faouzi Ben Rebah
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  2. Danielle Prévost
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  3. Rajeshwar Dayal Tyagi
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  4. Lassaad Belbahri
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Correspondence to Lassaad Belbahri.

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Ben Rebah, F., Prévost, D., Tyagi, R.D. et al. Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate Production by Fast-Growing Rhizobia Cultivated in Sludge and in Industrial Wastewater. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 158, 155–163 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-008-8358-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-008-8358-1

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