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An Overview of Biorefinery Waste for Microbial Production of Green Plastic in a Circular Economy
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This review examines how waste streams from biorefineries — such as agricultural residues and food processing byproducts — can be used as feedstocks for microbial production of bioplastics like polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). The authors assess current production methods, cost challenges, and the potential for a circular bioeconomy where plastic alternatives are made from waste rather than fossil fuels. While not about microplastic contamination directly, reducing reliance on conventional plastics through bio-based alternatives is a key long-term strategy for limiting microplastic generation.
An increasing amount of plastics is being used due to the growing population. Plastic waste pollution has become a major problem, especially in the marine environment, due to the increasing global demand for plastic materials. Bioplastics produced from waste in biorefineries offer a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics by recycling materials that are normally thrown away in the food, farming and manufacturing industries. This technology tackles both the plastic waste crisis and the inefficient use of biomass. By recycling biorefinery waste into bioplastics, the impact on the environment can be reduced, waste minimised and less fossil fuel consumed. Improving material qualities, reducing production costs and optimising the efficiency and scalability of these processes are all ongoing challenges. This review focuses on waste biorefineries for bioplastic synthesis as a sustainable approach to the circular bioeconomy. It also provides a better understanding of environmental sustainability, societal well-being and technological advances in the utilisation of various biorefineries as different substrates and methods for bioplastic synthesis.
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PHA, the Greenest Plastic So Far: Advancing Microbial Synthesis, Recovery, and Sustainable Applications for Circularity
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This review examines polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a family of biodegradable plastics made by bacteria that could replace conventional petroleum-based plastics. Switching to PHAs could significantly reduce microplastic pollution because unlike traditional plastics, these materials fully break down in the environment rather than fragmenting into persistent microplastic particles.
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) – Production, Properties, and Biodegradation
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This review covers polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a class of microbially produced biopolyesters, discussing raw material innovation, microbial producer strains, bioengineering approaches for improved yields, and end-of-life biodegradation options. PHAs are presented as a genuinely circular plastic alternative due to their renewable production, biodegradability, and compatibility with existing plastic applications including food packaging.
Polyhydroxyalkanoates as multifaceted biopolymers: an eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastics.
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Plastic pollution and the microplastics it creates are a growing health concern, but this review paper looks at a promising fix: plastics made by bacteria instead of fossil fuels, called PHAs, which naturally break down without leaving lasting waste. The researchers summarize existing studies on how to grow and produce these bacteria-made plastics more efficiently and affordably, since high costs are still the main reason they haven't replaced regular plastic on store shelves. While PHAs aren't widely available yet, this research maps out what's needed to make them a real, scalable alternative that could reduce our exposure to plastic waste in the environment
Switching from petro-plastics to microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA): the biotechnological escape route of choice out of the plastic predicament?
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This review makes the case for replacing petroleum-based plastics with microbially produced biodegradable alternatives (PHAs), particularly for packaging and medical applications. If produced efficiently enough, PHAs could reduce persistent plastic waste and the resulting microplastic pollution.
PHA-Based Bioplastic: a Potential Alternative to Address Microplastic Pollution
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This review examines polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)-based bioplastics as biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-derived plastics, highlighting their potential to reduce microplastic pollution while discussing challenges in scaling production and improving material properties.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.