Publisher's Synopsis
Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is a broad term covering a group of natural biopolymers that are synthesised by a range of microbes. PHAs are biodegradable, biocompatible thermoplastics which have great potential; they have garnered an increasing amount of attention as an alternative to petroleum-based plastics due to the increasing global need for sustainable development through renewable and eco-friendly resources.
This book has two main aims. Firstly, it reviews the major pipelines for processing this biopolymer, from upstream through to downstream. The upstream processing includes the isolation of PHA producers, biosynthesis of PHA, genetic modification of PHA producers and optimisation of PHA production; meanwhile the downstream processing covers the PHA recovery and purification, degradation, quantification, characterisation, as well as the application of PHA. An introduction to the key concepts in each area is given. Secondly, this book details recent advances in each PHA processing field, offering readers insight into how the research trends are evolving over time.
