Biotechnological Production and Valorization of Bio-based Polyphosphate Using Sacharomyces cerevisiae CBS:1502 Strain

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 1, 14 - 26, 30.06.2025

Kelvin Vulla , Beatrice Francis

Abstract

Phosphorus, primarily sourced from rock phosphate, is essential for all living organisms a n d i s widely used in agriculture, food, cosmetics, animal feed, and electronics. However, the demand for phosphate exceeds its availability, threatening future supplies. To address this, biotechnologists are investigating methods to recover and recycle phosphate, focusing on extracting polyphosphate from waste streams. This study explores the capacity of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to bioaccumulate free phosphate from a synthetic medium with high phosphate concentrations. Our experiments demonstrated a significant decrease in phosphate levels over time, indicating consumption by the yeast. The strain utilized in our study was able to store a maximum of 10% polyphosphate, which, while lower than the 28% storage capacity reported for other strains, still highlights the potential of yeast to absorb phosphate from environments with elevated levels. This approach not only offers a method for addressing eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems by removing excess phosphates, but also promotes a circular economy. The extracted polyphosphate can be repurposed for applications such as fire control and agriculture, thereby reducing dependence on new phosphate sources and fostering a more sustainable environment.

Keywords

Polyphosphates , Saccharomyces cerevisiae , microbial biotechnology , starving medium , feeding medium

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