Co-production of Poly (β-hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs) and Biosurfactants (BS) is made possible because they both contain hydroxyalkanoic acids as their main constituents. This study investigated the use of glucose and molasses at varying concentrations as alternative carbon substrates for the co-production of PHAs and BS. Biosynthesis was for 7days at 30 0C during which the best PHA was produced from 8% glucose (101 mgL) on the third day and the best BS from 4% molasses (52 mg/L) on the fifth day. The produced PHAs contained hexadecanoic, octadecenoic and octadecanoic acids from molasses and hexadecanoic and octadecenoic acids from glucose. Some fractions from the open column chromatography were positive to both Anthrone and Rhodamine B test reagent and others negative to Ninhydrin test reagent indicating that the presence of a glycolipid; the PHAs on the other hand showed monomers of alkanoic acids. This research showed that both biopolymers (PHAs and biosurfactants) can be produced via microbial fermentation from agro-wastes by Pseudomonas luteola. It is recommended that optimization studies on the best pH, innoculum load, speed and temperature be done to ascertain the best conditions for production of both PHAs and biosurfactants as their applications cannot be overemphasized.
Key words: Biosurfactant (BS), Glucose, Molasses, Poly (β-hydroxyalkanoic acids) (PHA) and Pseudomonas luteola.
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