Cost-Effective Bioconversion of Banana Peel and Paper Pulp Residues into Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) Using Bacillus Thuringiensis

Plastic pollution is a complex and challenging problem in the whole world. Accumulation of synthetic polymer is to becoming a major global concern due to its less biodegradation property. Bio-based polymer is a great alternative to synthetic polymer. PHB Bioplastic is plastic derived from organic waste obtained through household, industrial, and agricultural waste microbiological method. The present study involves the production a bio-degradable polymer viz. polyhydroxyburyate (PHB) by using Bacillus thuringiensis. Based on physical and mechanical investigations, this prepared PHB Bioplastic was identified to be of high tensile strength, normal elongation and slightly hard as related to that of starch based plastics. The permeability, solubility and biodegradability test of the prepared PHB Bioplastic from Bacillus thuringiensis was within the range of that of other starch bioplastics. All the properties of the PHB biopolymer composites produced by the waste banana peel and paper pulp residues were characterized and analysed