Background:
The paper reports on the utilization of palm kernel oil (PKO) as a low cost renewable substrate for
medium-chain-length poly-3-hydroxyalkanoates (mcl-PHA) production by
Pseudomonas putida
BET001.
Investigation on the effects of selected key variables on growth, mixed free fatty acids consumption and mcl-PHA
production by the bacterial culture in the shaken flask system were carried out along with its kinetic modeling.
Results:
The biomass production, fatty acids consumption andmcl-PHA production were found favorable when the
strain was cultured inmineral medium at pH 6–7, 28°C, aeration surface-to-volume ratio of 0.4 × 10
6m
-1, 250 rpm
agitation rate for 48 h. Mcl-PHA production by this strain showed mixed growth and non-growth associated
components as described by Luedeking–Piret kinetic model.
Conclusion:
The findings of this study provided add to the literature on key variables in for achieving good microbial
growth andmcl-PHA production in shake flasks culture. In addition, suitable kineticmodel to describe cultivation in
this system was also presented.