Aquaculture Waste: Potential Synthesis of Polyhydroxyalkanoates

Petroleum-based plastics commonly and widely used on a daily basis are a threat to ecological health as they do not degrade in an ecologically feasible time frame. A class of natural polymers known as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) represents an up-and-coming alternative to petroleum-based materials, as they share properties similar to those of commodity plastics, such as polyethylene, polystyrene, among others, with the advantage of being biodegradable. PHAs are naturally produced by microorganisms under stress, and various farming practices have been proposed to be used for the synergistic and sustainable production of PHA for commercial purposes. Aquaculture has demonstrated particular potential for the production of PHA; however, a large struggle in commercializing these polymers is in procuring necessary feedstocks for manufacture outside of the laboratory environment. Through the coupling of PHA production and biofloc technology in aquaculture, the impediments to commercial exploitation can be potentially surmounted, while also providing for higher production efficiency in aquafarms. This mini-review covers the basic aspects of biofloc technology applied to aquaculture for the commercial production of PHA in large scale and offers a brief perspective on the next steps associated with the research and implementation of PHA production with biofloc technology.