Production of Poly($\beta$-hydroxybutyrate-co-$\beta$-hydroxyvalerate) by Two-stage Fed-batch Fermentation of Alcaligenes eutrophus

Production of poly($\beta$-hydroxybutyrate-co-$\beta$-hydroxyvalerate)[poly(HB-co-HV) from glucose and propionic acid was studied in a two-stage fed-batch fermentation using Alcaligenes eutrophus NCIMB 11599. When either glucose became sufficient or the feeding rate of propionic acid decreased, production of poly(HB-co-HV) increased but concomitantly resulted in a reduced fraction of HV. During the copolymer accumulation stage, the specific production rate of hydroxyvalerate (HV) increased up to 0.013 (g-HV/g-RCM/h) but it decreased as propionic acid was accumulated. Control of the propionic acid concentration in the medium, therefore, is considered to be one of the most important operating parameters for production of poly(HB-co-HV) with a higher HV fraction. A high titre of poly(HB-co-HV) (85.6 g/I) with HV fraction of 11.4 mol$%$ could be obtained in 50 h by controlling the propionic acid concentration at 1 to 4 g/I.