Journal of Bioremediation & Biodegradation
Open Access

Abstract

The assessment of bioplastic producing potential of Bacillus subtilis using a variety of pretreated agro-residues was carried out. The agro residues were rice husks, molasses, bagasse, and corn cobs. Acid, alkaline and oxidative pretreatment of the agro-residues were done using standard procedures. Bioplastics produced were extracted using chloroform precipitation and quantified spectrophotometer. Acid, base and peroxide concentrations in g/L of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) were obtained for rice husks 1.52±0.02, 1.82±0.01, and 1.70±0.01; molasses 1.82±0.01, 1.52±0.02, and 1.69±0.01; bagasse 0.87±0.06, 1.10±0.10, and 0.96±0.07 and; corn cobs 0.5±0.00, 0.77±0.06, and 0.60±0.10. The bioplastic yield of the agro-residues for acid, base and peroxide pretreatments were: rice husks 50.33±0.76, 53.69±2.23 and 53.29±0.15; molasses 54.94±0.14, 50.55±0.25 and 53.09±0.17%; bagasse 53.33±6.68, 55.00±0.25 and 54.50±7.12 and; corn cobs 51.85±3.21, 63.94±2.59 and 60.11±8.89. Statistical analysis revealed that PHB concentration of alkaline pretreated rice husk had a significant (p<0.05) higher value than other pretreatments. However, among all the agro-residues used peroxide pretreated corn cobs had a significantly (p<0.05) higher percentage yield of bioplastic (63.94±2.59).

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