1. Introduction
Now there is a growing concern over the use of conventional
plastics like polypropylene and polyethylene. Production of these
plastics is dependent on depleting sources of hydrocarbons. These
petroleum derived plastics takes several years to decompose and
during degradation they produce harmful toxic compounds.
Because of these, an alternative is required for future economical
and ecologically safe polymers. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)
production through biological source is gaining importance to
overcome the adverse effects during conventional plastics degradation
(Rehm, 2010). PHA are the class of linear polyester
compounds naturally produced by many bacteria with similar
properties to polypropylene and polyethylene but completely
biodegradable, biocompatible and produced from renewable
resources. Upon disposal they are degraded by microorganisms
to water and carbon dioxide under aerobic condition and methane
under anaerobic conditions. PHA has been industrially produced by
pure cultures including Alcaligenes latus, Azotobacter vinelandii,
Pseudomonas oleovorans, recombinant Alcaligenes eutrophus and
Escherishia coli. However, one of the largest drawbacks of this
method involves the requirement of high operational costs which
accounts for nearly 11% of total production costs that includes
during
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