Abstract
In this chapter, recent developments on polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are introduced including their applications. Technology has been developed to lower the PHA production cost to improve its competitiveness. At the same time, functional PHA have been made to increase their values. Diversity of PHA has been widened to include not only monomer variations but also microstructure changes such as PHA homopolymers, block copolymers, and functional polymers. Research on application of PHA has been extended to include PHA-based biofuels, implant biomaterials, smart materials, etc. Recent development in synthetic biology will allow engineer the PHA production hosts so that they meet the requirements of ultrahigh PHA production with controllable flocculation properties and high cell density (>200. g/L) growth in a continuous fermentation process using low cost substrates including hydrolyzed cellulose, hydrolyzed sludge, or kitchen waste under unsterile conditions.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Industrial Biorefineries and White Biotechnology |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Pages | 555-574 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780444634535 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 20 May 2015 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Biofuels
- Biomaterials
- Biopolyesters
- PHB
- Polyhydroxyalkanoates