Cells were harvested by centrifugation, washed with a mixture of cold distilled water and cold hexane for removal of residual palm kernel oil , and then lyophilized overnight after which %CDW was determined. Approximately 10 mg of the lyophilized cells underwent methanolysis in a solution of 0.85 mL methanol, 0.15 mL 98% sulfuric acid, 2 mg benzoic acid, and 1 mL chloroform at 100C for 140 min for measurement of PHA content and polymer composition . The methylated monomer was determined by gas chromatography as previously described