Polyhydroxyalkanoates application

Polyester is a general term referring to any polymer where the monomers are linked by ester bonds and includes the biodegradable microbially derived polyhydroxyalkanoates, which, as they are naturally produced, are beyond the scope of this article (for a review see Kim Rhee, 2003). Most synthetic polyesters in large-scale use are the aromatic poly(ethylene tetraphthalate) or poly(butylene tetraphthalate) polyesters as they have excellent material properties and are used in a wide range of applications including plastic containers, fibres for synthetic fabrics, films... 

Polyhydroxyalkanoic acids (PHAs) have been extensively researched since the 1970s because of the potential applications of these compounds as biodegradable substitutes for synthetic polymers. The most successful PHA products are the polyhydroxybutyrates (PHBs). The bacterium... 

Special types of purpose-built polymers can also be made with the intention of enabling more rapid direct microbiological attack and decomposition of these materials. Classes of both condensation and addition polymers among the polyesters, vinylic polymers, and polyhydroxyalkanoates typify current candidate materials being tested in these applications (e.g., Eq. 23.9), but as yet high costs have discouraged large scale exploitation. 

Hazer, B., and Steinbtichel, A. (2007) Increased diversification of polyhydroxyalkanoates by modification reactions for industrial and medical applications. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol., 74, 1-12. 

Philip, S., Keshavarz, T., Roy, I. (2007). Polyhydroxyalkanoates Biodegradable polymers with a range of applications. Jourrml of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, 52(3), 233-247. 

Abstract Studies have shown that the production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) from plant oils is more efficient than from sugars in terms of productivity. Among the various plant oils, pahn oil is the most efficiently produced oil in the world. The main application of pahn oil is as a source of dietary fat. The conversion of food grade substrates to non-food materials is of concern because of the increasing need to feed the rapidly growing human population. Therefore, the by-products of the plant oil industry may be a better feedstock for PHA production. Alternatively, non-food grade oils such as jatropha oil can be developed as a feedstock for PHA production. This chapter looks at the potential of jatropha oil as a possible feedstock for the biosynthesis of PHA. 

Abstract Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is an attractive material because it can be produced from renewable resources and because of its plastic-like properties. In addition, PHA can be degraded by the action of microbial enzymes. Although PHA resanbles some commodity plastics, the performance and cost of PHA are not yet good enough for widespread applications as plastic materials. Therefore, the PHA commercialization attempts by many industries for bulk applications have been challenging. However, PHA also possesses interesting properties that can be developed for non-plastic applications. This chapter describes some new niche applications for PHA in cosmetics and wastewater treatment. 

Amara AAAF (2008) Polyhydroxyalkanoates From basic research and molecular biology to application. lUM Eng J 9 37-73... 

Philip S, Keshavarz T, Roy I (2007) Polyhydroxyalkanoates biodegradable polymers with a range of applications. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 82 233-247 Pierce L, Schroth MN (1994) Detection of pseudomonas colonies that accumulate poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate on Nile blue medium. Plant Dis 78 683-685 Pijuan M, Casas C, Baeza JA (2009) Polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis using different carbon sources by two enhanced biological phosphorus removal microbial communities. Process Biochem 44 97-105... 

Sudesh K (2004) Microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) an emerging biomaterial for tissue engineering and therapeutic applications. Med J Malays 59 Suppl B 55-56 Sudesh K, Abe H (2010) Practical guide to microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates. Smithers Rapra Technology, UK... 

Sudesh K, Abe H, Doi Y (2000) Synthesis, stracture and properties of polyhydroxyalkanoates biological polyesters. Prog Polym Sd 25 1503-1555 Sudesh K, Bhubalan K, Chuah J-A, Kek Y-K, Kamilah H, Sridewi N, Lee Y-F (2011) Synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoate from pahn oil and some new applications. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 89 1373-1386... 

Sudesh K, Loo CY, Goh LK, Iwata T, Maeda M (2007) The dl-absoibing property of polyhydroxyalkanoate films and its practical application a refreshing new outlook for an old degrading material. Macromol Biosci 7 1199-1205... 

Valentin HE, Schonebaum A, Steinbuchel A (1996) Identification of 5-hydioxyhexanoic add, 4-hydroxy heptanoic acid and 4-hydroxyoctanoic add as new constituents of bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoic adds. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 46 261-267 Valentin HE, Steinbuchel A (1993) Application of enzymatically synthesized short-chain-length hydroxyl fatty acid coenzyme A thioesters for assay of polyhydroxyalkanoic acid synthases. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 40 699-709... 

Zinn M, Witholt B, EgU T (2001) Occurrence, synthesis and medical application of bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoate. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 53 5-21 Zong X, Bien H, Chung C-Y, Yin L, Fang D, Hsiao BS, Chu B, Entcheva E (2005) Electrospun fine-textured scaffolds for heart tissue constructs. Biomaterials 26 5330-5338... 

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