Saudi Hot Spring Extremophilic Bacillus as an Alternative Bioresource for Sustainable Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) Biosynthesis from Shrimp Waste

The Saudi Vision 2030 biotechnology strategy aims to support sustainable development by exploring Saudi Arabia's unique extreme ecosystems. The diverse environment, including water ecosystems like marine and terrestrial environments, offers numerous biotechnological applications. The study aims to fulfill the national vision goal by using alternative renewable resources from extreme environments to produce eco-friendly products from organic waste, following the national biotechnological strategy. This approach helps preserve the ecosystem and serve humanity. Nnewly isolated Bacillus tequilensis was recently isolated from Al-Lith hot spring and identified by 16s rRNA sequencing, then submitted to GenBank by the accession number (OR616739). B. tequilensis isolates were used to produce bioplastic from shrimp waste. To ensure the production of bioplastic, bacterial slides were prepared from liquid media and stained with Sudan black B procedure, and bacterial colonies were also stained on agar plated by Sudan black B method. The final product was measured by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (MNR) spectroscopies for chemical analysis. Stained slides and plates showed the production of bioplastic as the bacterial cells showed black regions in the cell poles and the colony appeared black on agar plates according to staining by Sudan black B stain. The FT-IR and MNR analysis ensured the produced plastic polymer was Thermoplastic Elastomer (TE). The study demonstrates the use of TE copolymer, a blend of plastic and rubber, as an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum products, as it was created by a native thermophilic bacterium, demonstrating the potential of biotechnological methods to meet the Saudi National Vision 2030 goals and promote sustainable waste management.