ISSN 2756-3251
Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 2756-3251 Vol. 12 (4), pp.001-007, April, 2021. © International Scholars Journals
Review
Production of Polyhydroxyalkanoates, a bacterial biodegradable polymer
Ojumu, T.V.1*, Yu, J.2 and Solomon, B.O.3
1Engineering Materials Development Institute, P.M.B 611, Akure, Nigeria.
2Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
3Department of Chemical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
Accepted 19 March 2021
Abstract
There has been considerable interest in the development and production of biodegradable polymer to solve the current problem of pollution caused by the continuous use of synthetic polymer of petroleum origin. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are known to be accumulated as intracellular inclusion in some bacteria. The materials properties exhibited by PHAs, ranging from stiff, brittle to rubber-like makes it a close substitute for the synthetic plastic. The high cost of PHAs production has restricted its applications. The possibility of producing this polymer commercially and at comparable cost has been the main focus in this area.
Key words: Polyhydroxyalkanoates, biodegradable polymer, bioplastic, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), biosynthesis.