Response surface methodology optimization of polyhydroxyalkanoate production by Burkholderia cepacia BPT1213 using waste glycerol from palm oil‐based biodiesel production

The feasibility of using waste glycerol from the biodiesel industry for biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) by Burkholderia cepacia BPT1213 was evaluated. Culture conditions were optimized by growing B. cepacia BPT1213 in mineral salt medium supplemented with 2% waste glycerol in a 2.5 L bioreactor. Response surface methodology was used to determine the influence of aeration rate (0.6–1.8 vvm), agitation speed (100–300 rpm), and cultivation period (48–72 hr) on PHA production. The optimum conditions for the growth and PHA accumulation were 1.5 vvm, 300 rpm, and 72 hr, with predicted values of 5.08 g/L cell dry weight (CDW), 66.07% PHA content, and 3.35 g/L total PHA concentration. Using these conditions, the experimental system produced 5.63 g/L of CDW with 64.00% wt/wt PHA content, which is threefold higher PHA concentration (3.60 g/L) compared to the non‐optimized conditions. The melting temperature (Tm) of purified PHA was 173.45 ± 1.05°C. In conclusion, the statistical approach was significantly increased the PHA production using waste glycerol as the sole carbon source.