BackgroundPolyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), an important member of the family of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), is a biodegradable thermoplastic synthesized by numerous microorganisms under different cultivation conditions. ResultsA simple dynamic model for producing PHB in a fed-batch reactor is presented. The kinetic model accuracy is quantified by the specific error measures. The dynamic manipulation scheme with prescribed stepwise changes is used to improve PHB productivity. A multi-objective optimization algorithm is used to determine the optimal feeding strategy. ConclusionReduced kinetic models in a mixed culture cultivation process for PHB production are successfully verified. An optimization-based feeding strategy with stepwise changes has been derived and successfully validated. (c) 2013 Society of Chemical Industry