Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12)
Development and optimization strategies for sustainable Polyhydroxybutyrate production from lignocellulosic biomass
Bibi Nausheen Jaffur 1* , Gopalakrishnan Kumar 2,3 , Pratima Khadoo 1 1 Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Mauritius, Réduit 80837, Mauritius 2 Institute of Chemistry, Bioscience and Environmental, Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway 3 School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, South Korea E-mail: nausheen.jaffur@gmail.com In the quest for sustainable alternatives to synthetic plastics, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) emerges as a promising biodegradable polymer derived from renewable sources. This study focuses on synthesizing PHB from Furcraea foetida (FF), a cellulose-rich biomass abundant in Mauritius. Utilizing agricultural waste like FF leaves, this research aims to produce eco-friendly biopolymers while addressing environmental concerns linked to traditional plastics. An eco-friendly extraction process, employing urea and glycerol, recovered cellulose and hemicellulose from FF, which were then fermented by Cupriavidus necator . Optimization via Plackett-Burman and Box-Behnken designs resulted in a PHB yield of 79.4% under solid-state fermentation (SSF). Comparative studies revealed that submerged fermentation (SF) yielded slightly higher biomass and PHB content, showcasing both methods’ scalability for PHB production. Characterization techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis, confirmed the polymer’s chemical, structural, and thermal properties. Biodegradation studies demonstrated complete breakdown of PHB in various environments within 3–6 months, leaving no toxic residues. Aligned with SDGs, this research promotes responsible consumption (SDG 12) and climate action (SDG 13), while addressing plastic pollution (SDG 6). By leveraging FF as a resource, Mauritius and other small island developing states can lead sustainable bioplastic innovations, advancing global efforts to combat plastic waste. Key words: Lignocellulosic biomass; Fermentable Sugar Extraction; Biomass Processing; Process Optimization: Sustainable Biofuel and Biopolymer Production References 1. Liu, Z., Wang, Y., He, N., Huang, J., Zhu, K., Shao, W., Wang, H., Yuan, W., Li, Q., 2011. Optimization of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) production by excess activated sludge and microbial community analysis. J. Hazard. Mater. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. jhazmat.2010.08.003 2. Walker, T.R., Fequet, L., 2023. Current trends of unsustainable plastic production and micro(nano)plastic pollution. TrAC - Trends in Analytical Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2023.116984 3. Kiselev, E.G., Demidenko, A. V., Zhila, N.O., Shishatskaya, E.I., Volova, T.G., 2022. Sugar Beet Molasses as a Potential C-Substrate for PHA Production by Cupriavidus necator. Bioengineering 9, 154. https://doi.org/10.3390/ bioengineering9040154
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