The Study on Microbial Polymers: Pullulan and PHB

Microbial cells are producers of natural polymers present in plant cells. Production of pullulan (an extracellular microbial polysaccharide) by Aureobasidium pullularia pullulans (P. pullulans) was studied under fermentation conditions, and kinetic parameters were determined. Pullulan formation obeyed a growth and non-growth associated term. PHB (polyhydroxybutyrates) an intracellular biopolymer production by Rastonia eutropha (Alcaligen eutrophus), R. eutropha was studied under different culture media, including synthetic and natural carbon sources. Molasses as a natural carbon source in the culture media presented high efficiency in cell and biopolymer accumulation.