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Saponified palm kernel oil and its major free fatty acids as carbon substrates for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates in Pseudomonas putida PGA1

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Abstract

The synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) by Pseudomonas putida PGA1, using saponified palm kernel oil (SPKO), was investigated. The PHA produced from SPKO was compared with those produced by the major free fatty acids found in the palm kernel oil. Owing to the absence of lipase activity in P.␣putida, palm kernel oil did not support cell growth. However, SPKO could support cell growth and produced relatively high yield of both dry cells and PHA. The polyester produced was similar in properties to those derived from lauric (C12:0) and myristic (C14:0) acids, while oleic acid (C18:1) gave rise to PHA that was sticky and of broader molecular mass distribution. Nuclear magnetic resonance and gas chromatography showed that these PHA were copolymers consisting mainly of n-alkanoate monomers ranging from C6 to C14, with C8 as the predominant component. PHA derived from SPKO and oleic acid also contained a small amount of unsaturated monomers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, , , , , , MY

    S. N. Gan

  2. Polymer Program, PennState University, State College, PA 16081 USA, , , , , , US

    B. Gordon III.

  3. Institute of Advanced Studies, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Fax: +60 3 756 8940, , , , , , MY

    I. K. P. Tan, K. Sudesh Kumar & M. Theanmalar

Authors
  1. I. K. P. Tan
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  2. K. Sudesh Kumar
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  3. M. Theanmalar
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  4. S. N. Gan
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  5. B. Gordon III.
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Received: 25 March 1996 / Received last revision: 30 September 1996 / Accepted: 18 October 1996

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Tan, I., Kumar, K., Theanmalar, M. et al. Saponified palm kernel oil and its major free fatty acids as carbon substrates for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates in Pseudomonas putida PGA1. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 47, 207–211 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002530050914

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002530050914

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