Establishing Mixotrophic Growth of Cupriavidus necator H16 on CO2 and Volatile Fatty Acids

The facultative chemolithoautotroph Cupriavidus necator H16 is able to grow aerobically either with organic substrates or H2 and CO2 s it can accumulate large amounts of (up 90%) poly (3-hydroxybutyrate), a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolymer. ability this organism co-utilize volatile fatty acids (VFAs) as sources carbon under mixotrophic growth conditions was investigated PHA production monitored. accumulation assessed aerobic conditions, individual VFAs in mixtures, three different conditions—with additional source, without energy. utilisation rates were slower the presence CO2. significantly higher when cultures grown mixotrophically an energy source compared heterotrophic H2. Furthermore, two-step VFA feeding regime found be most effective method for accumulation. It used using CO2, mixture derived from anaerobic digestor (AD). data obtained demonstrated that process parameters need carefully monitored avoid toxicity low product