Polyhydroxyalkanoate Production Using Sulfuric Acid Pre-Treated Wheat Straw (SAPWS) as a Feedstock: RSM (Response Surface Methodology)-Based Optimization Using Bacillus paranthracis RSKS-3

The increasing number of plastic debris produced worldwide and its detrimental impacts on the environment and human health have led to rising demand for bio-plastic, or polyhydroxyalkanoate, as a replacement to synthetic plastic manufactured from petroleum. The usefulness of agricultural waste as a prime source of carbon for Polyhydroxyalkanoate production and aids in the valorization of the waste. The study optimizes sulfuric acid pre-treated wheat straw (SAPWS) along with inoculum size, temperature, and incubation period using Box-Behnken design (BBD). The maximum Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) yield (0.250 g/L) and productivity (0.521%) by Bacillus paranthracis RSKS-3. were found at 10 g/L SAPWS, 5% inoculum size, 7.4 pH, and 48 h of the incubation period. The observed estimations were in statistical accord with the anticipated values of 0.247 g/L and 0.508%. Based on PHA production using SAPWS as a carbon source, 1.2 g/L was produced with was 5.29-fold increment as compared to standard glucose (10 g/L) that produced 0.34 g/L PHA. The characteristic properties of extracted PHA were similar to the standard PHA. Conclusively, agricultural waste possibly will be utilized as an alternative and a renewable feedstock for green synthesis of PHA production.