Production of polyhydroxyalkanoate from nipa sap using Cupriavidus necator DSM545

Polyhydroxyalkanoate or PHA is produced through microbial fermentation of sugar and lipid where in nature it is stored as energy and carbon source for microorganisms. Most of the carbon feedstock used for PHA production are derived from biomass as they remain the cheapest carbon source to date. In this study, nipa palm sap was proposed as an alternative carbon feedstock since it is underutilized and widely distributed along river estuaries in Malaysia. This nipa sap contains high sugar content and essential nutrients which are required for PHA production. The aim of this work was to explore potential of nipa sap as a carbon source and to investigate effect of added and non-added nutrient nipa media on PHA production during batch fermentation using Cupriavidus necator DSM545. Extraction of PHA using chloroform showed that 2 g/L of PHA was recovered when nipa added with nutrient was used while nipa only media produced 2.16 g/L of PHA. All the samples showed presence of PHA carbonyl band (C=O) from extracted PHA granules by using FTIR while peak obtained using UV Spectrophotometer confirmed the presence of PHA. These findings proved that nipa palm sap as a novel and alternative carbon source for PHA production.