Sustainable Polymer Production

TLDR

Sustainable biotechnological production of polyhydroxyalkanoates from renewable resources offers a biodegradable alternative to petrochemical polyesters, with diverse prokaryotes capable of accumulating PHAs and synthesizing copolyesters under nutrient‑limiting conditions. PHA is produced in a fed‑batch or potentially continuous chemostat process, followed by biomass separation, polyester extraction, and refinement.

Abstract

Abstract Sustainable biotechnological production of polyhydroxyalkanoates from renewable resources is an alternative to chemical polyster production from mineral oils. The polymers produced are biodegradable, and due to their characteristics can be used for the production of packaging materials. Many different prokaryotic microorganisms are known to accumulate polyhydroxyalkanoates intercellularly under growth limiting conditions; some of them are able to produce copolyesters from precursors added to the production medium. Production normally is done in a fed-batch process, but PHA production kinetics suggest that continuous production in a chemostat might be favorable. After biomass separation the polyester is extracted from the biomass and refined.