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Exploiting latent microbial potentials for producing polyhydroxyalkanoates: A holistic approach.

Vipin Chandra Kalia¹, Sanjay K S Patel², Pattabiraman Krishnamurthi¹

¹Department of Chemical Engineering, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-Gu, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea.

Environmental Research

|January 20, 2025

Summary

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) offer sustainable alternatives to plastics. Strategies like strain selection and genetic engineering can enhance PHA production, making these biopolymers more viable and eco-friendly.

Keywords:

Biopolymer Biotechnological applications CRISPRi Feedstock Metabolic engineering Sustainability

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Area of Science:

Polymer Science and Engineering
Biotechnology and Microbial Engineering
Environmental Science and Sustainability

Background:

Conventional plastics, derived from fossil fuels, present significant environmental challenges due to their non-biodegradability.
Biopolymers, including polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), poly(lactic acid), starch, and cellulose, are emerging as sustainable alternatives.
PHAs are particularly promising as they are bio-based, biodegradable, and microbially synthesized energy reserves.

Purpose of the Study:

To review strategies for enhancing polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production to overcome limitations such as low mechanical strength and high costs.
To emphasize the development of sustainable PHA production methods.
To explore the role of additives and processing techniques in improving PHA characteristics for wider application.

Main Methods:

Selection of robust microbial strains and optimal feedstock combinations for PHA synthesis.
Optimization of fermentation processes to maximize cell biomass and biopolymer yields.
Genetic engineering of microbial biosynthetic pathways and refinement of downstream processing techniques.
Incorporation of additives (plasticizers, stabilizers, antioxidants) to modify PHA properties.

Main Results:

Identified key strategies for improving PHA production efficiency and yield.
Demonstrated the importance of feedstock selection and microbial strain optimization.
Highlighted the role of genetic engineering and downstream processing in enhancing PHA quality and reducing costs.

Conclusions:

Overcoming current limitations in PHA production and processing can lead to more viable, versatile, and eco-friendly biopolymer alternatives.
Sustainable production strategies are crucial for the widespread adoption of PHAs.
Modified PHA characteristics through additives and processing enable better performance and broader end-use applications, contributing to a sustainable future.