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Chapter 12 Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) as renewable resource

  • Katharina Meixner , Jacqueline Jerney , Adriána Kovalcik , Ines Fritz and Bernhard Drosg
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The Autotrophic Biorefinery
This chapter is in the book The Autotrophic Biorefinery

Abstract

This chapter deals with the production, processing and application of biobased and biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), especially poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) with a focus on photoautotrophic cultivation of cyanobacteria. PHB is accumulated as a storage compound by a wide variety of taxonomically different bacteria including cyanobacteria, aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic, purple non-sulfur as well as heterotrophic bacteria. Cyanobacteria are photoautotrophic organisms and need to be provided with light, CO2 and mineral nutrients. They can be cultivated in open or closed systems (so-called photobioreactors). After cultivation, biomass is harvested and PHB extracted, where two main methods can be distinguished: polymer solubilization and solubilization of non-PHB biomass. PHB can be processed via extrusion or injection molding and used for various applications, ranging from agriculture/ fishery/gardening and food packaging to applications in medicine or pharmacy. These applications are mainly based on the biodegradability of the polymer. PHB is degraded in soil and liquid environments and even at unfavorable conditions (e.g., low temperature). Some companies produce PHA at a large scale, but quantities are too low to substitute conventional polymers, mainly due to rather high PHAmarket prices. This is, among others, a reason why research focused on the utilization of cheap nutrient sources and thereby on the integration of PHA production into biorefinery.

Abstract

This chapter deals with the production, processing and application of biobased and biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), especially poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) with a focus on photoautotrophic cultivation of cyanobacteria. PHB is accumulated as a storage compound by a wide variety of taxonomically different bacteria including cyanobacteria, aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic, purple non-sulfur as well as heterotrophic bacteria. Cyanobacteria are photoautotrophic organisms and need to be provided with light, CO2 and mineral nutrients. They can be cultivated in open or closed systems (so-called photobioreactors). After cultivation, biomass is harvested and PHB extracted, where two main methods can be distinguished: polymer solubilization and solubilization of non-PHB biomass. PHB can be processed via extrusion or injection molding and used for various applications, ranging from agriculture/ fishery/gardening and food packaging to applications in medicine or pharmacy. These applications are mainly based on the biodegradability of the polymer. PHB is degraded in soil and liquid environments and even at unfavorable conditions (e.g., low temperature). Some companies produce PHA at a large scale, but quantities are too low to substitute conventional polymers, mainly due to rather high PHAmarket prices. This is, among others, a reason why research focused on the utilization of cheap nutrient sources and thereby on the integration of PHA production into biorefinery.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. List of authors VII
  4. Chapter 1 A short recapitulation of the autotrophic metabolism 1
  5. Chapter 2 Metabolic engineering of microbes 19
  6. Chapter 3 Protein engineering 47
  7. Chapter 4 Gas fermentation 85
  8. Chapter 5 Introduction to autotrophic cultivation of microalgae in photobioreactors 113
  9. Chapter 6 Synthetic biology of cyanobacteria 131
  10. Chapter 7 Algal biotechnology 173
  11. Chapter 8 Biocatalytic applications of autotrophic organisms 207
  12. Chapter 9 Photocatalysis to promote cell-free biocatalytic reactions 247
  13. Chapter 10 Electroautotrophs: feeding microbes with current for CO2 fixation 277
  14. Chapter 11 Cupriavidus necator – a broadly applicable aerobic hydrogen-oxidizing bacterium 297
  15. Chapter 12 Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) as renewable resource 319
  16. Chapter 13 Applications of mixed microbial cultures in industrial biotechnology 353
  17. Chapter 14 Economic framework of autotrophic processes 385
  18. Index 397
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110550603-012

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. List of authors VII
  4. Chapter 1 A short recapitulation of the autotrophic metabolism 1
  5. Chapter 2 Metabolic engineering of microbes 19
  6. Chapter 3 Protein engineering 47
  7. Chapter 4 Gas fermentation 85
  8. Chapter 5 Introduction to autotrophic cultivation of microalgae in photobioreactors 113
  9. Chapter 6 Synthetic biology of cyanobacteria 131
  10. Chapter 7 Algal biotechnology 173
  11. Chapter 8 Biocatalytic applications of autotrophic organisms 207
  12. Chapter 9 Photocatalysis to promote cell-free biocatalytic reactions 247
  13. Chapter 10 Electroautotrophs: feeding microbes with current for CO2 fixation 277
  14. Chapter 11 Cupriavidus necator – a broadly applicable aerobic hydrogen-oxidizing bacterium 297
  15. Chapter 12 Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) as renewable resource 319
  16. Chapter 13 Applications of mixed microbial cultures in industrial biotechnology 353
  17. Chapter 14 Economic framework of autotrophic processes 385
  18. Index 397
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