Screening and production of biodegradable plastics from marine Bacillus spp

Plastic is considered an individual gift of modern science and technology to mankind. Nowadays, plastics and synthetic polymers are mainly produced from petro chemical elements, which do not decompose, thus resulting in the environmental pollution. Bacterial plastic is usually defined as an exciting new area of research, where naturally synthesized bacterial polymer, such as the lipid storage material PHB is being used as raw materials for plastic based packaging materials. Poly-β-hydroxybutyrates (PHBs) are one such biopolymer, which are commonly found in soil and synthesized by a broad range of bacteria, during the limitation of nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, iron or essential vitamins. The present investigation includes isolation and identification of marine Bacillus sp. from seawater and screening of media components for maximum production of Poly-β-hydroxybutyrates. Twenty Bacillus sp. was isolated from seawater. Among 20 isolates, nine showed the maximum Sudan black absorption, which indicated the highest production of Poly-β-hydroxybutyrates. Among nine isolates, 3 isolates were selected best isolates for the maximum production of poly-β-hydroxybutyrates, 2 isolates are B. Subtilis and one isolate identified as B. Cereus. The highest PHB production was observed at pH 8 by all three isolates, at 40°C for B. subtilis and 35°C for B.cereus. Glucose was found to be sole carbon source for the production of PHB by B. subtilis. Maltose was found best carbon source for the maximum production of PHB for B. cereus. The maximum amount of PHB production in ammonium sulphate for B. subtilisand and yeast extract for B. cereus. B. subtilis isolates were produced the maximum PHB at 3% salinity while B. cereus was produced at 2% salinity. Poly-β-hydroxybutyrateis biodegradable plastics. So definitely they can support quality lifespan of all living creatures including human being due to non-pollution environment.