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Polyhydroxyalkanoate production and optimization: utilization of novel non-edible oil feedstock, economic analysis

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Abstract

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) belongs to a class of biopolymers that can be produced from a variety of microorganism. Their properties are similar to synthetic plastics but are eco-friendly. This makes PHA an ideal substitute for synthetic plastic. In this process, Madhuca indica oil and Cupriavidus necator were used to produce PHA. Sodium nitrate was used as a nitrogen source. Effects of different nitrogen sources, their concentration, oil concentration, and inoculum volume on the production of PHA were extensively studied. The process was optimized using response surface methodology. The concentration of nitrogen source (0.12–0.60 g/L), oil concentration (2.5 to 17.5 g/L), and inoculum volume (10 to 50 v/v %) was found to have an impact on PHA yield, and optimum values were found for maximum PHA production using RSM. NMR and FT-IR were performed to characterize the sample, and the nature of polyhydroxyalkanoate was found. A model process plant was designed and simulated in Aspen plus V10, and economic evaluation was done using Aspen economic analyzer. Economic analysis was performed, and the total capital investment, annual operating cost, annual raw material cost, and payback period were found to be 2574420 $/year, 9767310 $/year, 7811400 $/year, and 3.8 years, respectively.

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Data availability

The datasets used during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

PHA:

Polyhydroxyalkanoates

RSM:

Response surface methodology

PHB:

Polyhydroxybutyrate

FFA:

Free fatty acid

CCD:

Central composite design

NMR:

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

FT-IR:

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

TGA:

Thermogravimetric analysis

HB:

Hydroxybutyrate

HV:

Hydroxyvalerate

LB:

Luria–Bertani

MSM:

Mineral salt medium

DCE:

Dry coconut cake extract

DCW:

Dry cell weight

mcl PHA:

Medium chain length PHA

WCO:

Waste cooking oil

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Funding

The financial support for this study is provided by SERB (Science and Engineering Research Board), India (Grant No. ECR/2017/001038/2017–20) to carry out this research work. We thank SASTRA Deemed to be University for the Aspen Plus University license for performing cost analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ASK-II/Lab-316, Bioprocess Intensification Laboratory, Centre for Bioenergy, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Trichy-Tanjore Road, Thirumalaisamudram, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613401, India

    S. Prasanth, R. Sivaranjani, P. Abishek, K. J. Rupesh & A. Arumugam

  2. Centre for Pollution Control and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology, Pondicherry University, Kalapet, Puducherry, 605014, India

    M. Swathi & S. Sudalai

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  1. S. Prasanth
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Correspondence to A. Arumugam.

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Highlights

• Utilization of non-edible oil for biopolymer production.

• Optimum conditions: 0.625 g/L of nitrogen content, 11.5 g/L of oil concentration, and 30% (v/v) of inoculum volume.

• This leads to the development of a cost-effective process for biopolymer.

• Response surface methodology was implemented to optimize PHA production derived from CCD.

• The maximum PHA yield was found to be 5.81 g/L under the optimized condition.

• Polyhydroxyalkanoate was characterized by FT-IR and NMR.

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Prasanth, S., Sivaranjani, R., Abishek, P. et al. Polyhydroxyalkanoate production and optimization: utilization of novel non-edible oil feedstock, economic analysis. Biomass Conv. Bioref. (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-022-03259-6

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