ABSTRACT Glycerol was used as a source of additional carbon in the production of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P(3HB)). The inverted sugar and glycerol concentrations and the temperature of the Cupriavidus necator culture medium were evaluated using a Central Composite Rotational Design (CCRD). The results showed that the increase in temperature and sugar concentration led to an increase in production and P(3HB) accumulation and when 15 g L−1 of glycerol was added better results were obtained, however these were not considered statistically significant. The best results were obtained at 38 °C and with 30 g L−1 of inverted sugar. Although not considered statistically significant, the addition of 15 g L−1 of glycerol increased the P(3HB) accumulation percentage by 15 %, thus in kinetic terms, greater productivity was obtained in 0.32 g L−1 h−1 polymer. Larger scale assays are being conducted to verify if the addition of glycerol improves the thermal and mechanical properties of the synthesized polymer.

ABSTRACT Glycerol was used as a source of additional carbon in the production of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P(3HB)). The inverted sugar and glycerol concentrations and the temperature of the Cupriavidus necator culture medium were evaluated using a Central Composite Rotational Design (CCRD). The results showed that the increase in temperature and sugar concentration led to an increase in production and P(3HB) accumulation and when 15 g L-1 of glycerol was added better results were obtained, however these were not considered statistically significant. The best results were obtained at 38 °C and with 30 g L-1 of inverted sugar. Although not considered statistically significant, the addition of 15 g L-1 of glycerol increased the P(3HB) accumulation percentage by 15 %, thus in kinetic terms, greater productivity was obtained in 0.32 g L-1 h-1 polymer. Larger scale assays are being conducted to verify if the addition of glycerol improves the thermal and mechanical properties of the synthesized polymer.

The aim of this work was to study the production of the bioinsecticide using the aerobic cultivation. Two-stage cultivation process was used: aerobic vegetative growth and end-phase of sporulation (with aeration and without aeration). The cuts of working volume evaluated were 20, 40, 60 and 80 %. The highest value of spore concentration (2.17x10(9) CFU/mL) and spore productivity (7.2x10(7) CFU/mL.h) were observed using SP60. The lethal concentration (CL50) obtained through the aeration process and non-aeration process were 0.21 and 0.05 mg/L, respectively. The specific potential of the bioinsecticide produced without aeration (0.025 mg/10-12 CFU) was two times higher than that obtained with aeration (0.05 mg/10-12 CFU).