微生物聚羟基脂肪酸酯PHA.docVIP

The Application and Industrialization of Bio-based Degradable Materials--PHA Chen Guoqiang (Department of Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing) Introductions Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), using microorganisms as carbon sources and energy reserves, is generally found in the forms of inclusion bodies in microbial cells. Because of the different monomer structures, there is a great variety of PHA, including not only the PHA composed of short-chain monomers and long-chain monomers, but also the copolymers formed of different monomers. PHA is a bio-polymer family comprising varied polyesters. As a kind of thermoplastic materials, it can be fully degraded into carbon dioxide and water in natural environment in 3-6 months without composting. More than 20 companies related to the mass production of PHA have been established in the world. PHA and some relevant technologies are now being formed a commercial and industrial chain covering the fields of fermentation, materials, resources and medical science. The good news is that under the support of domestic governments at all levels, China has made a leaping progress in the research of PHA application in recent years and the relevant industries have also greatly developed. The industrial chain of PHA in fermentation, biomedical materials, pharmaceutics, bio-fuels, fodder and plastics now is being formed. PHA Applications Based on the particular polymer properties, PHA with different structures and characteristics has been extensively studied and used as bio-plastics, fibres, medical implants and drug release carrier, etc. At the first beginning, PHA was designed for making daily supplies and packaging materials by Wella AG Co.,Ltd from Germany. PHA is developed by PG, Biomers, Metabolix and many other companies for packing film, which is mainly used in shopping bags, coating material of containers and paper as well as disposable goods such as razors, household utensils, napkins, lady cares, cups, operation clothin