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PHB - Bio Based and Biodegradable Replacement for PP: A Review
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This review assessed polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a biologically produced and fully biodegradable polyester, as a sustainable replacement for polypropylene in food packaging, noting its similar properties and genuine biodegradability as key advantages over conventional plastics that persist as microplastics.
Food packaging today relies heavily on plastics such as PP (polypropylene) and PE (polyethylene), from which short-lived, cost-effective packaging materials are made. Their accumulation in the environment has becomes a significant concern. PHB (Polyhydroxy butyrate) is a naturally produced polyester, which can be used as biodegradable thermoplastics. PHB has similar properties to PP and is seen as sustainable replacement candidate for this fossil commodity polymer. PHB is biodegradable, also in the marine environment. Key benefits of PHB over PP are lower carbon footprint and avoidance of “white pollution”, which manifests itself e.g. as marine debris and microplastics. Bioplastics today have a market share of only 2%, and it is materials that can replace mass products such as PE and PP which can really pave the way for more sustainable plastics. PHB will play a key role here. In this review article, the state-of-the-art in PHB production and applications is discussed
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PHB - Bio Based and Biodegradable Replacement for PP
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examined polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) as a biodegradable, bio-based replacement for polypropylene in food packaging, noting that PHB is produced naturally by bacteria and degrades in marine environments unlike conventional plastics. The paper highlights PHB's potential to reduce plastic waste and microplastic pollution from short-lived packaging.
Microbial Production of Biopolymer Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB): Current Challenges and its Application
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This review examines the microbial production of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a biodegradable polyester produced by microorganisms as an energy and carbon storage compound, covering current production challenges and industrial applications. The study discusses PHB as a biopolymer alternative to petroleum-based plastics, addressing cost, yield, and scalability barriers limiting its commercial adoption.
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.
More than PHB – the PHAmily of Copolymers: Justifications for Broader Use and Summary of Biodegradation Facts on Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) – A Review
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Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) encompass a broad family of copolymers beyond the well-known PHB, each with distinct mechanical and thermal properties suited to specific applications. This review makes the case for embracing bioplastic diversity rather than converging on a single material, arguing that different PHA compositions are needed to replace the full range of conventional plastics. The variety within the PHA family is a strength, not a complication, for the transition to sustainable materials.
Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents for PHB Recovery: Mechanistic Insights and Implications for Sustainable Downstream Processing
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This study examines recovery methods for polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a biodegradable plastic alternative, with a focus on replacing toxic chlorinated solvents with green and natural deep eutectic solvents; PHB is relevant to microplastics research because switching from conventional plastics to PHB would reduce the long-lived microplastic fragments that accumulate in the environment. The paper provides quantitative comparisons of extraction yields and solvent recyclability to guide more sustainable PHB production at scale.
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