article · Discover Applied Sciences
A new bacterium, Enterobacter sp. MPLSI-2, was isolated from a plastic waste landfill and identified as a producer of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). This bacterium synthesises a novel seven-monomer medium- and long-chain PHA copolymer directly from glucose. The study optimised culture conditions, finding maximum PHA accumulation at 37 °C and pH 7 using glucose, with molasses also proving a viable substrate. An effective recovery method involving SDS pretreatment and solvent extraction was developed, yielding 74.7% extraction. The research confirms that Enterobacter sp. MPLSI-2 can produce substantial PHA from both pure and agro-industrial carbon sources, and that optimised recovery improves overall yield.
This research offers a new biological pathway for producing biodegradable plastics, which are crucial for replacing conventional plastics and reducing environmental pollution. Identifying a novel bacterial strain capable of synthesising complex PHAs from readily available carbon sources like molasses could contribute to sustainable waste management and bioplastic production.
This early-stage research identifies a new bacterial strain and optimises initial conditions for producing a novel biodegradable polymer. It could enable the industrial bioproduction of biodegradable plastics, potentially using agro-industrial waste products like molasses as feedstocks. Potential users include manufacturers seeking sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics, contributing to efforts to mitigate plastic pollution.
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Synthetic plastic waste poses a severe environmental threat due to its persistence and accumulation. As a result, producing biodegradable alternatives like polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) is essential to replace conventional plastics and mitigate this pollution crisis. We isolated a novel Enterobacter sp. (MPLSI-2, PV029923) from a plastic waste landfill, a stress-rich and underexplored niche for identifying PHA producers. This study reports the first bioproduction of a novel seven-monomer medium- and long-chain copolymer, P(3HHxD-co-3HHxDe-co-3HOD-co-3HODe-co-3HTeD-co-3HTrD-co-3HHeD), by Enterobacter sp. MPLSI-2. Notably, the complex PHA was synthesized directly from glucose as the sole carbon source. The isolate identified via 16S rRNA sequencing as Enterobacter sp. MPLSI-2 (GenBank accession number: PV029923). Phylogenetic analysis and nucleotide homology confirmed the strain shares 99.44% sequence similarity with Enterobacter bugandensis EB-247 (FYBI01000003). The isolate is a Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod, positive for citrate utilization and for amylase and protease production. Initial screening using Sudan Black B, Nile Blue A, and PHA-selective media revealed intracellular PHA granules, which were confirmed by microscopic observation. Using a One-Factor-At-A-Time (OFAT) design, culture conditions (temperature, pH) and carbon sources were optimized. Maximum PHA accumulation occurred at 37 °C and pH 7 using glucose (52.1 ± 1.87% DCW), followed by molasses (37.9 ± 0.66% DCW). The achieved productivity highlights the viability of molasses as an alternative substrate. Among recovery methods tested, SDS pretreatment followed by solvent extraction gave the highest extraction yield (74.7 ± 3.72%). While FTIR analysis suggested the characteristic ester carbonyl and alkyl bands indicative of PHAs, complementary GC–MS profiling definitively identified the polymer as a complex seven-monomer copolymer consisting of P(3HHxD-co-3HHxDe-co-3HOD-co-3HODe-co-3HTeD-co-3HTrD-co-3HHeD). These results indicate that Enterobacter sp. MPLSI-2 can produce substantial PHA from both pure and agro-industrial substrates and that optimized recovery improves overall yield.
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DOI: 10.1007/s42452-026-09400-8
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