Polyhydroxyalkanoates or PHAs are linear polyesters produced in nature by bacterial fermentation of sugar or lipids. They are produced by the bacteria to store carbon and energy. More than 150 different monomers can be combined within this family to give materials with extremely different properties. These plastics are biodegradeable and are used in the production of bioplastics.
Due to biocompatibility and
biodegradability of biologically-produced PHA for possible uses as
plastics with promising physical and chemical characteristics (e.g.,
can be changed by blending and/or modifying the surface), PHAs
could be applicable to be biodegradable polymers for green technology
of sustainable development [2].