Polyhydroxybutyrate degradation by biocatalyst of municipal sludge water and degradation efficacy in sequencing batch biofilm reactor.

Abstract The main aim of the study was to degrade poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (P(3HB)) in the sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR) using biocatalyst. Enrichment method was used for the isolation of P(3HB) degrading bacteria. These bacterial strains were isolated from the wastewater sludge sample treated with P(3HB) sheets. A total of 75 bacteria were isolated after 60 days of incubation. The zone of clearance varied between 12 ± 1 mm and 19 ± 2 mm. Two bacterial strains (Nitrobacter vulgaris SW1 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa KS10) showed rapid PHB degradation activity on agar plates. Plate screening experiments confirmed PHB degrading ability of P. aeruginosa KS10 and N. vulgaris SW1. Biodegrading potential improved after 72 h fermentation period. The bacteria produced depolymerase and enzyme activity was maximum after 72 h. The sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR) co-cultured with N. vulgaris SW1 and P. aeruginosa KS10 was operated to remove PHB from the wastewater. Biofilm in the reactor degraded PHB and the production of polyhydroxybutyrate depolymerase influenced on PHB degradation. Polyhydroxybutyrate degradation improved continuously and maximum degradation (95.6%) was achieved after 8 days. The degradation of biopolymers help to reduce environmental pollution associated with the petroleum based polymers.