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An integrated metabolic-polymerization-macroscopic model, describing the microbial production of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) in Azohydromonas lata bacteria, was developed and validated using a comprehensive series of experimental measurements. The model accounted for biomass growth, biopolymer accumulation, carbon and nitrogen sources utilization, oxygen mass transfer and uptake rates and average molecular weights of the accumulated PHB, produced under batch and fed-batch cultivation conditions. Model predictions were in excellent agreement with experimental measurements. The validated model was subsequently utilized to calculate optimal operating conditions and feeding policies for maximizing PHB productivity for desired PHB molecular properties. More specifically, two optimal fed-batch strategies were calculated and experimentally tested: (1) a nitrogen-limited fed-batch policy and (2) a nitrogen sufficient one. The calculated optimal operating policies resulted in a maximum PHB content (94% g/g) in the cultivated bacteria and a biopolymer productivity of 4.2 g/(l h), respectively. Moreover, it was demonstrated that different PHB grades with weight average molecular weights of up to 1513 kg/mol could be produced via the optimal selection of bioprocess operating conditions.

Quantitative HPLC and colorimetry are used to study color variations in dyeings with indigo, 6-bromoindigo, and 6,6′-dibromoindigo, the main components of the historic dye Tyrian purple. For the first time, visible light is identified conclusively as a cause of debromination of the leuco form of 6-bromoindigo. A dyeing run using 6-bromoindigo alone is found to yield a dyed fabric containing large amounts of indigo, when the vat is exposed to visible light. The extent of debromination is dependent upon the pH of the dye bath and also the source of the visible light. This information allowed development of a dyeing procedure which is demonstrated to give consistent colors through two passes. Quantitative HPLC analysis of extracts from the dyed fabrics indicates that the leuco form of 6-bromoindigo vs. the leuco forms of indigo and 6,6′-dibromoindigo has the strongest affinity for wool fabric. This is postulated to be due to attractive electrostatic interactions between the leuco form of 6-bromoindigo and wool.