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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Bioproducts Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #335407
Title: Production and characterization of microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates

Author
item Cal, Andrew
item SIKKEMA, DIRK - Retired ARS Employee
item Ponce, Maria
item Orts, William
item Lee, Charles

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/2/2017
Publication Date: 4/4/2017
Citation: Cal, A.J., Sikkema, D.W., Ponce, M.I., Orts, W.J., Lee, C.C. 2017. Production and characterization of microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates. Meeting Abstract. American Chemical Society. p.340.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Poyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are biologically-produced polyesters. These polymers are of great interest due to both their potential production from renewable substrates and their inherent biodegradability. Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is the most common type of biological PHA. However, the material properties PHB are not ideal for replacing flexible plastics. PHA polymers with varied monomer chain length have properties suited to applications where rigidity is not desired. We conducted research genetically modifying various microorganisms (Pseudomonas sp. and Bacillus sp.) to produce PHA from various feedstocks. Different PHA (co)polymers were produced containing C4-C12 monomer units. The physical properties of these polymers were tested and will be described.