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The important biological macromolecule polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) producing Bacillus
subtilis was isolated from the sewage sample and identified by means of 16S rRNA analysis. The
renewable nature and biodegradability of PHBs make them suitable material to replace synthetic
plastics in many applications. Presently their production is exclusive, but these plastics are only in
the initial stage of commercial development. In the present study the physico-chemical parameters
such as Time, Temperature and pH were optimized for increased production of PHB. It was found
that maximum production of PHB was observed at 48 hours of incubation time (328μg/ml),
temperature of 37 ̊ C (336μg/ml) and pH of 7.5 (362 μg/ml). The low cost production media was
developed using fruit peel extract and sugarcane industrial waste. The amount of PHB produced
using low cost production media with fruit peel was 234 μg/ml and with sugar industrial waste was
218 μg/ml. The PHB produced was characterized using FTIR and NMR analysis.
Keywords: Polyhydroxybutyrate, Bacillus subtilis, optimization.