ABSTRACT

This second volume of the "Handbook of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA): Kinetics, Bioengineering and Industrial Aspects" focusses on thermodynamic and mathematical considerations of PHA biosynthesis, bioengineering aspects regarding bioreactor design and downstream processing for PHA recovery from microbial biomass. It covers microbial mixed culture processes and includes a strong industry-focused section with chapters on the economics of PHA production, industrial-scale PHA production from sucrose, next generation industrial biotechnology approaches for PHA production based on novel robust production strains, and holistic techno-economic and sustainability considerations on PHA manufacturing. Aimed at professionals and graduate students in Polymer (plastic) industry, wastewater treatment plants, food industry, biodiesel industry, this book

Provides an insight into microbial thermodynamics to reveal the central domain governing in PHA formation, both aerobically and anaerobically.

Includes systematic overview of mathematical modelling approaches, starting from low-structured and formal kinetic models until modern tools like metabolic models, cybernetic models and so forth

Discusses challenges during scale up of PHA production processes and on development of non-sterile processes and contamination-resistant strains

Presents a holistic picture of the current state of PHA research by mixed cultures

Reviews the industry-related point of view about current and future trends in PHA production and processing

1. An Introduction to the Thermodynamics Calculation of PHA Production in Microbes 2. Mathematical Modelling for Advanced PHA Biosynthesis. 3. Interconnection between PHA and Stress Robustness of Bacteria. 4. Linking Salinity to Microbial Biopolyesters Biosynthesis: Polyhydroxyalkanoate Production by Haloarchaea and Halophilic Eubacteria. 5. Role of Different Bioreactor Types and Feeding Regimes in Polyhydroxyalkanoates Production. 6. Recovery of Polyhydroxyalkanoates from Microbial Biomass. 7. Polyhydroxyalkanoates by Mixed Microbial Cultures: The Journey so Far and Challenges Ahead. 8. PHA Production by Microbial Mixed Cultures and Organic Waste of Urban Origin: Pilot Scale Evidences. 9. Production Quality Control of Mixed Culture Poly(3-Hydroxbutyrate-co-3-Hydroxyvalerate) Blends Using Full-Scale Municipal Activated Sludge and Non-Chlorinated Solvent Extraction. 10. Economics and Industrial Aspects of PHA Production. 11. Next Generation Industrial Biotechnology (NGIB) for PHA Production. 12. PHA Biosynthesis Starting from Sucrose and Materials from Sugar Industry. 13. LCA, Sustainability and Techno-economic Studies for PHA Production.