Degradation of poly(3- hydroxybutyrate) and its derivatives: Characterization and kinetic behavior

Abstract

The bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and their principal representative poly(3R-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) create a competitive option to conventional synthetic polymers such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyesters and so on. These polymers are nontoxic and renewable. Their biotechnology output does not depend on hydrocarbon production as well as their biodegradation intermediates and resulting products (water and carbon dioxide) do not provoke the adverse actions in environmental media or living systems [1-3]. Being friendly environmental [4], the PHB and its derivatives are used as the alternative packaging materials, which are biodegradable in the soil or different humid media [5, 6].