Biosynthesis of medium-chain-length poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) by volatile aromatic hydrocarbons-degrading Pseudomonas fulva TY16

Pseudomonas fulva TY16 biosynthesized medium-chain-length poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) (MCL-PHAs) containing unsaturated 3-hydroxydodecenoate unit (approximately 8–9%) when grown with volatile aromatic compounds including benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene as sole carbon substrate. In particular, when cultivated using a continuous feeding system designed to supply toluene at a flow rate of 0.42 g L−1 h−1 into a 7-L jar fermentor, the growth of the organism reached up to approximately 3.87 g L−1 after the 48 h fed-batch fermentation, representing an accumulated cellular MCL-PHA of 58.9% by weight. The obtained MCL-PHA was a copolyester primarily consisting of 3-hydroxydecanoate (55.2%) and 3-hydroxyoctanoate (26.8%) with minor constituents being 3-hydroxyhexanoate (3.7%), 3-hydroxydodecenoate (8.2%), and 3-hydroxydodecanoate (6.1%). The present results suggest that P. fulva TY16 is a promising candidate for the biotechnological conversion of toxic petrochemical wastes to valuable biopolymers.