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Microbial synthesis, physical properties, and biodegradability of polyhydroxyalkanoates
Author(s) -
Doi Yoshiharu
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/masy.19950980150
Subject(s) - polyhydroxyalkanoates , biodegradation , poly 3 hydroxybutyrate , polyester , copolymer , polyhydroxybutyrate , alcaligenes , chemistry , kinetics , biopolymer , polymer chemistry , organic chemistry , fructose , bacteria , materials science , polymer , biochemistry , pseudomonas , genetics , biology , physics , quantum mechanics
Poly(( R )‐3‐hydroxybutyrate), P(3HB), is produced by Alcaligenes eutrophus from fructose or butyric acid. The kinetics and mechanism of P(3HB) biosynthesis are presented. Four types of copolymers, poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐ co ‐3‐hydroxyvalerate), poly (3‐hydroxybutyrate‐ co ‐3‐hydroxypropionate), poly (3‐hydroxybutyrate‐ co ‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate), and poly (3‐hydroxybutyrate‐ co ‐4‐hydroxybutyrate), are produced by several bacterial strains from various carbon substrates. These microbial polyesters are biodegradable thermoplastics whose physical properties can be regulated by varying the molecular structure and composition of copolymers.