No abstract

Aim:  To test the Bacillus strains for their abilities to produce polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) from different sugars and biowaste (Pea‐shells). Methods and Results:  Six Bacillus strains were checked for their ability to produce PHB from GM2 medium supplemented with different sugars at the rate of 1% (w/v) and from biowaste and GM2 (BW : M) combinations (3 : 7, 1 : 1, 7 : 3). Glucose supplemented GM2 medium resulted in maximum PHB production of 435 mg l−1 constituting 31–62% w/w of the total cell dry mass. Substituting GM2 medium to the extent of 50% with biowaste (pea‐shell slurry) resulted in 945–1205 mg l−1 PHB (55–65% w/w). Optimization for additional nitrogen supplementation, inoculum size resulted in a final PHB production of 3010–3370 mg l−1 equivalent to 300 g kg−1 biowaste (dry wt). Conclusion:  The Bacillus strains were able to produce PHB from biowaste (Pea‐shells) as cheap source of substrate. Significance and Impact of the Study:  This is the first report on usage of pea‐shells as feed for PHB production, opening new possibilities for its use for production of PHB and Bacillus as potential candidate for the purpose.