Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 24, 2026

Author Spotlight: Optimizing Hollow-Fiber Membranes for Continuous Liquid-Liquid Extraction of Medium-Chain Fatty Acids
Published on: August 9, 2024
A review on the conversion of volatile fatty acids to polyhydroxyalkanoates using dark fermentative effluents from
Gopalakrishnan Kumar1, Vinoth Kumar Ponnusamy2, Rahul R Bhosale3
1Institute of Chemistry, Bioscience and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Stavanger, Box 8600 Forus, 4036 Stavanger, Norway; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
The production of bio/microbial-based polymers, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from volatile fatty acids (VFAs) of dark fermentative effluents in the bio-H2 reactor is being paid attention, owing to their commercial demand, applications and as carbon as well as energy storage source. Since, they are the cheap precursors for such valuable renewable biopolymers which all possess the properties; those are analogous to the petro-derived plastics. Several studies were stated, related to the consumption of both individual and mixed VFAs for the potential PHAs production. Their biodegradability nature makes them extremely desirable alternative to fossil-derived synthetic polymers. In this regard, this review summarizes the use of bio-based PHAs production via both microbial and biochemical pathways using dark fermentative bio-H2 production from waste streams as feedstock. Furthermore, this review deals the characteristics, synthesis and production of the bio-based PHAs along with their co-polymers and applications to give an outlook on future research.
Related Concept Videos
Fermentation
Fermentation is a type of metabolic process that occurs in the absence of oxygen, where organic molecules such as glucose are broken down to produce energy. During this process, the...
Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism
Fatty acids are catabolized in a process called beta-oxidation, which takes place in the matrix of the mitochondria and converts their fatty acid chains into two-carbon units of acetyl groups. The acetyl...
Gene Conversion
Gene Conversion
Volatilization
Hydrogen Bonds
Hydrogen Bonds Control the World!
Because hydrogen has very weak electronegativity when it binds with a strongly electronegative atom, such as oxygen or nitrogen, electrons in the bond are unequally shared....

