Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 25, 2025
08:14
Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste
Published on: July 18, 2025
554
Established and Emerging Producers of PHA: Redefining the Possibility
Shivam Bhola1, Kanika Arora1, Saurabh Kulshrestha1
1Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan, 173229, India.
Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology
|August 4, 2021
Summary
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) offer a sustainable alternative to petroleum plastics, addressing environmental pollution. Optimizing production through better strains and market strategies is key to overcoming cost challenges and enabling widespread adoption.
Area of Science:
- Biopolymer Science
- Environmental Science
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Petroleum-based plastics cause significant global pollution, necessitating eco-friendly alternatives.
- Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), discovered a century ago, present a biodegradable solution.
- High production costs remain a major barrier to widespread PHA adoption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production.
- To analyze the techno-economic feasibility of current commercial PHA models.
- To highlight PHA's potential as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics.
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature on PHA production systems (bacteria, yeast, microalgae, transgenic plants).
- Analysis of factors influencing PHA production costs, particularly strain optimization.
- Techno-economic assessment of commercial PHA production models.
Main Results:
- Strain selection significantly impacts PHA production costs (over 40%).
- Improved strains, practices, and market strategies can mitigate economic constraints.
- PHAs demonstrate versatility for applications in packaging, medical, and other industries.
Conclusions:
- Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a viable, sustainable alternative to petroleum plastics.
- Addressing production costs is crucial for market penetration and environmental impact.
- PHA's biocompatibility and biodegradability make it ideal for medical applications.
Related Concept Videos
01:06Primary Production
24.3K
The total amount of energy acquired by primary producers in an ecosystem is called gross primary production (GPP). However, of this energy, producers use some for metabolic processes, and some is lost as heat, decreasing the amount of energy available to the next trophic level. The remaining usable amount of energy is called the net primary productivity (NPP). In terrestrial ecosystems, NPP is driven by climate, while light penetration and nutrient availability drive NPP in aquatic ecosystems.
24.3K
01:02Phosphorylation
52.5K
The addition or removal of phosphate groups from proteins is the most common chemical modification that regulates cellular processes. These modifications can affect the structure, activity, stability, and localization of proteins within cells as well as their interactions with other proteins.
During phosphorylation, protein kinases transfer the terminal phosphate group of ATP to specific amino acid side chains of substrate proteins. Serine, threonine, and tyrosine are the most commonly...
During phosphorylation, protein kinases transfer the terminal phosphate group of ATP to specific amino acid side chains of substrate proteins. Serine, threonine, and tyrosine are the most commonly...
52.5K
01:21The Phosphorus Cycle
41.7K
Unlike carbon, water, and nitrogen, phosphorus is not present in the atmosphere as a gas. Instead, most phosphorus in the ecosystem exists as compounds, such as phosphate ions (PO43-), found in soil, water, sediment and rocks. Phosphorus is often a limiting nutrient (i.e., in short supply). Consequently, phosphorus is added to most agricultural fertilizers, which can cause environmental problems related to runoff in aquatic ecosystems.
41.7K
01:39Keystone Species
22.6K
Measures of species biodiversity, such as richness (i.e., the number of species present) and evenness (i.e., their relative abundance), describe an ecological community’s structure. Many factors affect community structure, including abiotic factors (e.g., sunlight and nutrients), disturbances (e.g., fire or flood), species interactions (e.g., predation or competition), and chance events (e.g., foreign species invasion). Certain species—such as keystone species—also play a...
22.6K
01:59The Phragmoplast
5.5K
Cell division is essential for organismal growth and development. In animal cells, the central spindle and its associated proteins form the midbody, a structure that has an essential role in cytokinesis. In plants, the central spindle, along with the microtubules, actin, and other cell components, matures into the phragmoplast, which is necessary for cytokinesis. Unlike the stationary midbody, the phragmoplast expands centrifugally, eventually leading to the formation of the new cell wall.
The...
The...
5.5K
01:01Phosphodiester Linkages
105.9K
Overview
Phosphodiester bond forms when a phosphoric acid molecule (H3PO4) links with two hydroxyl groups (–OH) of two other molecules, forming two ester bonds. Two water molecules are released in this process. The phosphodiester bond is commonly found in nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and plays a critical role in their structure and function.
Phosphodiester Bonds Link Nucleotides Together
DNA and RNA are polynucleotides or long chains of nucleotides that are linked together. A nucleotide is...
Phosphodiester bond forms when a phosphoric acid molecule (H3PO4) links with two hydroxyl groups (–OH) of two other molecules, forming two ester bonds. Two water molecules are released in this process. The phosphodiester bond is commonly found in nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and plays a critical role in their structure and function.
Phosphodiester Bonds Link Nucleotides Together
DNA and RNA are polynucleotides or long chains of nucleotides that are linked together. A nucleotide is...
105.9K