Jatropha Oil as a Potential Carbon Source for PHA Production

Abstract Studies have shown that the production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) from plant oils is more efficient than from sugars in terms of productivity. Among the various plant oils, pahn oil is the most efficiently produced oil in the world. The main application of pahn oil is as a source of dietary fat. The conversion of food grade substrates to non-food materials is of concern because of the increasing need to feed the rapidly growing human population. Therefore, the by-products of the plant oil industry may be a better feedstock for PHA production. Alternatively, non-food grade oils such as jatropha oil can be developed as a feedstock for PHA production. This chapter looks at the potential of jatropha oil as a possible feedstock for the biosynthesis of PHA. 

Keywords Crude pahn kernel oil (CPKO) Jatropha curcas Jatropha oil Palm oil Plant oils Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) 

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