An overview of recent advancements in microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates (Pha) production from dark fermentation acidogenic effluents: A path to an integrated bio-refinery

Rijuta Ganesh Saratale, Si Kyung Cho, Ganesh Dattatraya Saratale, Manu Kumar, Ram Naresh Bharagava, Sunita Varjani, Avinash A. Kadam, Gajanan S. Ghodake, Ramasubba Reddy Palem, Sikandar I. Mulla, Dong Su Kim, Han Seung Shin

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Global energy consumption has been increasing in tandem with economic growth motivating researchers to focus on renewable energy sources. Dark fermentative hydrogen synthesis utilizing various biomass resources is a promising, less costly, and less energy-intensive bioprocess relative to other biohydrogen production routes. The generated acidogenic dark fermentative effluent [e.g., volatile fatty acids (VFAs)] has potential as a reliable and sustainable carbon substrate for polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthesis. PHA, an important alternative to petrochemical based polymers has attracted interest recently, owing to its biodegradability and biocompatibility. This review illustrates methods for the conversion of acidogenic effluents (VFAs), such as acetate, butyrate, propionate, lactate, valerate, and mixtures of VFAs, into the value-added compound PHA. In addition, the review provides a comprehensive update on research progress of VFAs to PHA conversion and related enhancement techniques including optimization of operational parameters, fermentation strategies, and genetic engineering approaches. Finally, potential bottlenecks and future directions for the conversion of VFAs to PHA are outlined. This review offers insights to researchers on an integrated biorefinery route for sustainable and cost-effective bioplastics production.

Original languageEnglish
Article number4297
JournalPolymers
Volume13
Issue number24
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Keywords

  • Biobased production
  • Dark fermentative hydrogen production
  • Genetic engineering
  • Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)
  • Volatile fatty acids (VFAs)

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