Polyhydroxyalkanoates

Abstract

A number of publications have been written describing various aspects of poly(hydroxyalkanoates), PHAs [1--7]. The simplest and most common member of the PHA family is poly($β$-hydroxybutyrate) (I). The sections which follow describe the historical development of knowledge of this family of polyesters, and the scientific and technical aspects of significance in its commercial development. Currently, PHAs are only commercially available from fermentation technology, with current production approaching a million pounds per year. The environmental thrust for recycling and clean technologies for waste disposal suggest that PHA production will increase significantly in the coming decades.