Microbial valorization of wine lees as low-cost substrate for efficient polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) production

The environmental impact of wine production, especially in terms of waste, is a growing concern. For every liter of wine, 1.6 kg of wine lees (WL) are produced. Their potential in bioplastic production, specifically polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), remains largely untapped. PHAs are promising biopolymers as substitutes for petroleum-based plastics due to their biodegradability, compostability, and biocompatibility. They are synthesized by many microorganisms as carbon storage materials under severe stress conditions i.e., an excess or limitation of one or more essential nutrients. However, cost-effective large-scale production of PHAs requires a mandatory reduction in production costs, derived from the carbon source. Aim This research is aimed to evaluate a cheap residue such as wine lees as a potential substrate for PHAs production by two bacterial strains, Cupriavidus necator DSM 545 and Hydrogenophaga pseudoflava DSM 1034.