Production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) by Ralstonia eutropha JMP 134 with volatile fatty acids from palm oil mill effluent as precursors

The highest volatile fatty acids (VFAs) concentration from palm oil mill effluent (POME) treated by anaerobic fermentation was achieved for a 1-day process when the main acids used were acetic, propionic and butyric acids. Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production with VFAs from POME as precursors in the fed-batch mode has advantages over batch mode, both in terms of its productivity and 3HV (3-hydroxyvalerate) composition in the produced polymer. With the fed batch, the productivity increased to 343% and contained more 3HV than those of the batch. The structures of the PHA were identified by different methods and they supported each other; the resulting products consisted of functional groups of 3HB (3-hydroxybutyrate) and 3HV.