Simultaneous growth and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) accumulation in a Plasticicumulans acidivorans dominated enrichment culture

The wide variety of organic carbon to nitrogen and phosphorous ratios that are encountered in different wastewaters has a major impact on the poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) accumulation potential of microbial communities. In this study we investigated the influence of the substrate composition in terms of the carbon to nitrogen (C/N) or phosphorus (C/P) ratio on the PHB accumulation performance. A multi-reactor set-up was used, enabling parallel experiments using identical inoculum of an enrichment culture dominated by Plasticicumulans acidivorans. In all experiments simultaneous PHB production and growth was observed. Generally, when trace amounts of growth nutrients were present the PHB production yield on substrate remained high for at least 12 h. Interestingly, from the carbon to nutrient ratio in the substrate, the PHB wt% could be accurately predicted in the accumulations. This study demonstrates that strict uncoupling of microbial growth and PHA accumulation is not required for achieving high cellular PHA-contents. Herewith the range of wastewaters that enable a cellular PHA content of 80 % or higher for at least 12 h is expanded to C:N and C:P-ratios exceeding COD:N of 26 gCOD:gNH₄-N and COD:P of 511 gCOD:gPO₄-P respectively.