Physico-chemical Characterization of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate) Produced by Halomonas salina, Isolated from a Hypersaline Microbial Mat

摘要

In this work, the characterization of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) PHB produced by Halomonas salina isolated from ahypersaline microbial mat from Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, Mexico, is reported. The bacterial strain was able to produce isotactic PHB biopolymer with glucose (1%) as a single carbon source. The chemical structure of the polymer obtained was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The polymer was thermally stable up to 225 degrees C and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis showed a melting temperature (T-m) of 173.6 degrees C. The obtained polymer presented a lower degree of crystallinity (39.3%) in comparison with PHB produced by other bacteria and polyhydroxyalkanoate co-polymers. Thus, the PHB biopolymer obtained in this study, could be recognized as more suitable for practical use, contributing to the repertoire of available bioplastics for further potential biotechnological applications, in which elastic polymers are needed.