Characterization of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB) from Alternative, Scalable (Waste) Feedstocks

• Published in: Bioengineering (Basel) Vol. 10; no. 12; p. 1382
• Main Authors: de Sousa Junior, Rogerio Ramos, Cezario, Fabiano Eduardo Marques, Antonino, Leonardo Dalseno, Dos Santos, Demetrio Jackson, Lackner, Maximilian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 30.11.2023
• Subjects: Alternatives; Biocompatibility; Bioengineering; Biogas; Biomaterials; Biomedical materials; Bioplastics; Bones; Brittleness; Carbon dioxide; Costs; Cyanobacteria; Degradability; End of life; gas fermentation; Gases; Hydroxyapatite; Injection molding; Landfill; Mechanical properties; Methanotrophic bacteria; methanotrophs; Microorganisms; Physical properties; Plastics; poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB); Polyhydroxyalkanoates; Polyhydroxybutyrate; Polymers; Production costs; Raw materials; Recycling; Thermodynamic properties; Tissue engineering; Waste utilization; thermal properties; bioplastics; methanotrophs; cyanobacteria; gas fermentation; poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB); mechanical properties
• ISSN: 2306-5354; 2306-5354
• DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10121382

Bioplastics hold significant promise in replacing conventional plastic materials, linked to various serious issues such as fossil resource consumption, microplastic formation, non-degradability, and limited end-of-life options. Among bioplastics, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) emerge as an intriguing class, with poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB) being the most utilized. The extensive application of P3HB encounters a challenge due to its high production costs, prompting the investigation of sustainable alternatives, including the utilization of waste and new production routes involving CO and CH . This study provides a valuable comparison of two P3HBs synthesized through distinct routes: one via cyanobacteria ( sp. ) for photoautotrophic production and the other via methanotrophic bacteria ( sp. ) for chemoautotrophic growth. This research evaluates the thermal and mechanical properties, including the aging effect over 21 days, demonstrating that both P3HBs are comparable, exhibiting physical properties similar to standard P3HBs. The results highlight the promising potential of P3HBs obtained through alternative routes as biomaterials, thereby contributing to the transition toward more sustainable alternatives to fossil polymers.