Polyhydroxyalkanoates packaging

The bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and their principal representative poly(3-R-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) create a competitive option to conventional synthetic polymers such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyesters et al. These polymers are nontoxic and renewable. Their biotechnology output does not depend on hydrocarbon production as well as their biodegradation intermediates and resulting products (water and carbon dioxide) do not provoke the adverse actions in environmental media or living systems [1-3]. Being enviromnent friendly [4], the PHB and its derivatives are used as the alternative packaging materials, which are biodegradable in the soil or different humid media [5, 6]. 

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) is a family of structurally diverse biopolyesters accumulated by many bacteria as carbon and energy source (Figure 16.1)d PHA have been exploited with a series of applications including environmentally friendly biodegradable plastics for packaging purposes, biofuels, medical implants, and recently, smart materials. PHA monomers are also produced as chiral intermediates for medical or fine chemical applications. ... 

Figure 16.3 Global bioplastic packaging market by product type, 2010(%). AAC, aliphatic and aromatic copolyesters PLA, polylactic acid PHA, polyhydroxyalkanoate WSP, water-soluble polymers.

The ninth chapter is on the packaging applications of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). The authors discuss many topics such as polyhydroxyalkanoates, fundamental bioprocess steps for obtaining PHAs, degradation PHA uses in food packaging, methods for obtaining plastic products and examples of applications of bioplastics in food packaging etc. 

Polyhydroxyalkanoates as Packaging Materials Current Applications and Future Prospects... 

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