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The ecuatorian agroindustrial represents an important sector of participation for the economy. Its operation generates waste that, given its composition and processing possibility, becomes a material of interest to be used as a raw material in the production of bioplastics. The availability of the residue depends on the volume generated, which is why the amount produced by the agroindustrial country was estimated, using a pre-established methodology that starts from the annual average of crops, the portion of production allocated to industrial processing, the rate of generation of waste and other competitive uses. It was estimated that annually the agroindustrial generates about 2200 million kilograms, which are mostly composed of starch or lignocellulosic resources, which with physical, chemical or biotechnological transformations, can be used as raw material, filler material or precursor of bioplastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes some of the research experiences conducted at the University of Cauca In the field of biodegradable packaging as raw material derivatives agroindustrial processing of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz). Headings are addressed related to the formation of human talent, strengthening research groups participate, support from government agencies such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development-MARD- Colciencias and General Royalties System, relations with other institutions Higher Education in Colombia and abroad, participation in technological development centers, producers and industry organizations with collaborative work have enabled us to consolidate and strengthen the agribusiness chain of cassava in Cauca department. It also describes the processes in terms of intellectual property such as patents and licensing obtained, which strengthen the research group "Science and Technology of Agro-Interest Biomolecules CYTBIA-" leader in the field of bioplastics, and related information required with the creation of a "Spin Off" Technological Development and Innovation in biodegradable, which validates the impact of research developments directly in Science, Technology and Innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are polyesters intracellularly accumulated by various microorganisms as carbon and energy storage materials. The most common representative is poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB). These biopolymers have been considered to be good substitutes for petroleum-derived synthetic plastics because of their similar properties to synthetic polymers and its complete biodegradability after disposal. Nevertheless a major drawback to the commercialisation of PHAs is their much higher production cost compared with petrochemical-based synthetic plastic materials. Optimization of fermentation process is one of the strategies more used to reducing high production costs of PHB. The aims of this work were to determine the optimal initial pH value for PHB production, as well as to optimize the agitation-aeration conditions of the fermentation process for product-biomass yield and for PHB accumulation by Rhizobium tropici strain 3. Optimization of initial pH was carried out in an orbital shaker. The pH values were adjusted between 6 and 8. The relation between pH and PHB concentration (g ⋅ L-1 ) was modelled by using orthogonal polynomials. The optimal pH that assures the biggest PHB production is 6.58 ± 0.2. As statistical tools, a central compose design Box-Wilson was used to search the optimal values of two important variables in fermentation process: agitation-aeration rates, for PHB production and for product-biomass yield. The fermentations were carried out in a bioreactor with 7.5 L capacity with 5 L of optimum culture medium. It was determined that optimal values to obtain a maximum PHB production are 500 r ⋅ min-1 and 1 vvm (volumes of air per minute per volume of batch) for agitation and aeration respectively and for product-biomass yield optimal values are 472 r ⋅ min-1 and 1.55 vvm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]