Enhancing polyhydroxalkanoate (PHA) production from phenol through fermentation strategies: a review

Microbial conversion offers a promising solution to two environmental challenges, phenol and plastic pollutions, via the transformation of phenol into bioplastics, specifically polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). Synthetic plastics are widely used across various sectors; however, their non-biodegradable nat...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sabri, Izzati, Mohd Yusoff, Mohd Zulkhairi, Nor Muhammad, Nor Azlan, Ho, Li Sim, Ramli, Norhayati
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Malaysian Society for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology 2024
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117646/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117646/1/117646.pdf
_version_ 1848867304817819648
author Sabri, Izzati
Mohd Yusoff, Mohd Zulkhairi
Nor Muhammad, Nor Azlan
Ho, Li Sim
Ramli, Norhayati
author_facet Sabri, Izzati
Mohd Yusoff, Mohd Zulkhairi
Nor Muhammad, Nor Azlan
Ho, Li Sim
Ramli, Norhayati
author_sort Sabri, Izzati
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Microbial conversion offers a promising solution to two environmental challenges, phenol and plastic pollutions, via the transformation of phenol into bioplastics, specifically polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). Synthetic plastics are widely used across various sectors; however, their non-biodegradable nature and extensive daily use significantly contribute to environmental deterioration. Similarly, phenol, an important industrial material, is often released into the environment through inadequately treated effluents. Phenol is toxic even at low concentrations and may lead to severe environmental and health problems if not properly managed. Microorganisms not only degrade phenol into non-harmful compounds, facilitating its removal from the environment, but they also accumulate intracellular PHA, providing a biodegradable alternative to synthetic plastics. However, phenol’s toxicity at high concentrations can inhibit this process, leading to cell death. This review explores various fermentation strategies aimed at enhancing PHA production while addressing phenol toxicity. These strategies include the use of mixed microbial community (MMC), acclimatization to increasing phenol concentrations, feast-and-famine strategies, co-substrate supplementation, and substrate feeding strategies. An integrated approach would be more effective in overcoming phenol toxicity, leading to complete phenol degradation and improved PHA accumulation. However, these strategies must be tailored to the capabilities of microorganisms in adapting to and utilizing phenol as feedstock. Overall, these fermentation strategies have the potential to improve the management of plastic waste and phenol-contaminated wastewater, contributing to a more sustainable future.
first_indexed 2025-11-15T14:34:22Z
format Article
id upm-117646
institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
institution_category Local University
language English
last_indexed 2025-11-15T14:34:22Z
publishDate 2024
publisher Malaysian Society for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling upm-1176462025-06-04T02:30:34Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117646/ Enhancing polyhydroxalkanoate (PHA) production from phenol through fermentation strategies: a review Sabri, Izzati Mohd Yusoff, Mohd Zulkhairi Nor Muhammad, Nor Azlan Ho, Li Sim Ramli, Norhayati Microbial conversion offers a promising solution to two environmental challenges, phenol and plastic pollutions, via the transformation of phenol into bioplastics, specifically polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). Synthetic plastics are widely used across various sectors; however, their non-biodegradable nature and extensive daily use significantly contribute to environmental deterioration. Similarly, phenol, an important industrial material, is often released into the environment through inadequately treated effluents. Phenol is toxic even at low concentrations and may lead to severe environmental and health problems if not properly managed. Microorganisms not only degrade phenol into non-harmful compounds, facilitating its removal from the environment, but they also accumulate intracellular PHA, providing a biodegradable alternative to synthetic plastics. However, phenol’s toxicity at high concentrations can inhibit this process, leading to cell death. This review explores various fermentation strategies aimed at enhancing PHA production while addressing phenol toxicity. These strategies include the use of mixed microbial community (MMC), acclimatization to increasing phenol concentrations, feast-and-famine strategies, co-substrate supplementation, and substrate feeding strategies. An integrated approach would be more effective in overcoming phenol toxicity, leading to complete phenol degradation and improved PHA accumulation. However, these strategies must be tailored to the capabilities of microorganisms in adapting to and utilizing phenol as feedstock. Overall, these fermentation strategies have the potential to improve the management of plastic waste and phenol-contaminated wastewater, contributing to a more sustainable future. Malaysian Society for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology 2024 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117646/1/117646.pdf Sabri, Izzati and Mohd Yusoff, Mohd Zulkhairi and Nor Muhammad, Nor Azlan and Ho, Li Sim and Ramli, Norhayati (2024) Enhancing polyhydroxalkanoate (PHA) production from phenol through fermentation strategies: a review. Asia-Pacific Journal of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, 32 (4 spec.). pp. 38-50. ISSN 0128-7451; eISSN: 2672-7277 https://www.msmbb.my/images/publication/volume_32/issue_4/special/04-Sabri-et-al.pdf 10.35118/apjmbb.2024.032.4(special).04
spellingShingle Sabri, Izzati
Mohd Yusoff, Mohd Zulkhairi
Nor Muhammad, Nor Azlan
Ho, Li Sim
Ramli, Norhayati
Enhancing polyhydroxalkanoate (PHA) production from phenol through fermentation strategies: a review
title Enhancing polyhydroxalkanoate (PHA) production from phenol through fermentation strategies: a review
title_full Enhancing polyhydroxalkanoate (PHA) production from phenol through fermentation strategies: a review
title_fullStr Enhancing polyhydroxalkanoate (PHA) production from phenol through fermentation strategies: a review
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing polyhydroxalkanoate (PHA) production from phenol through fermentation strategies: a review
title_short Enhancing polyhydroxalkanoate (PHA) production from phenol through fermentation strategies: a review
title_sort enhancing polyhydroxalkanoate (pha) production from phenol through fermentation strategies: a review
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117646/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117646/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117646/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117646/1/117646.pdf