Journal of Microbial & Biochemical Technology

Abstract

Isolation and characterization of polyhydroxyalkanoate and exopolysaccharide producing Bacillus sp. PS1 isolated from sugarcane field in Bhilai, India

Prashant Shukla, Nimesh Patel, Raja Mohan Rao, Jini Shukla, Seema Verma, Shobha Jha and Shobha Gawri

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) and exopolysaccharide (EPS) are important biopolymers. Bacteria produce poly- hydroxyalkanoate by fermenting sugar and lipids as a mechanism of storing carbon and energy under unbalanced growth condition. A bacterium of Bacillus group was isolated from sugarcane field in Bhilai which produced PHA and EPS. It was aerobic, Gram positive, rod shaped, endospore forming and catalase producing bacterium. It was able to grow up to 14% NaCl concentration, pH range from 3 to 10 and temperature range from 27°C to 70°C. Maximum yield of PHA was 38.5 mg/ml at 40°C while at 60°C yield was 34.5 mg/ml. Likewise maximum yield of EPS was 18.5 mg/ml at 37°C. The bacterium has other biotechnological aspects also which is evident from the fact that it has catalase activity up to 65°C and produces urease.