Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Influence of microbial biomass content on biodegradation and mechanical properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) composites

This paper is not about microplastics — it studies how adding microbial biomass (algae and cyanobacteria) to a biodegradable polyester (PHB) accelerates its degradation rate in soil.

2023 Biodegradation 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Isolation and characterisation of Methylocystis spp. for poly-3-hydroxybutyrate production using waste methane feedstocks

Researchers isolated two new strains of methane-eating bacteria capable of converting waste methane gas — from landfills and digesters — into poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), a biodegradable plastic alternative. This dual approach could simultaneously reduce greenhouse gas emissions and produce an eco-friendly substitute for conventional petroleum-based plastics.

2021 AMB Express 8 citations
Article Tier 2

A Review of PHB Production by Cyanobacteria and Its Applications

This review examines cyanobacteria as photoautotrophic producers of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) bioplastic, summarizing how nutrient-stress conditions stimulate PHB accumulation and evaluating the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of using cyanobacteria as an alternative to conventional feedstocks for biodegradable plastic production.

2022 Journal Of Biochemical Technology 8 citations
Article Tier 2

A review on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) [P(3HB-co-3HHx)] and genetic modifications that affect its production

This review examined the properties, biodegradation behavior, and application potential of the biopolymer P(3HB-co-3HHx), a polyhydroxyalkanoate with mechanical properties comparable to common commodity plastics. The authors assess its viability as a drop-in replacement for single-use plastics, medical devices, and packaging with genuine end-of-life biodegradability.

2022 Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Biopolymers production from microalgae and cyanobacteria cultivated in wastewater: Recent advances

This review explores how microalgae and cyanobacteria grown in wastewater can produce biodegradable biopolymers as an alternative to conventional plastics. Researchers found that these organisms can manufacture polyhydroxyalkanoates and other bioplastics while simultaneously helping to treat wastewater. The approach offers a promising dual benefit of reducing plastic pollution and creating value from waste streams.

2022 Biotechnology Advances 101 citations
Article Tier 2

The co-conversion of methane and mixtures of volatile fatty acids into poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) expands the potential of an integrated biorefinery

Researchers used a methane-consuming bacterium to simultaneously convert natural gas and food waste byproducts into PHBV, a biodegradable plastic alternative, achieving yields that varied depending on the mix of waste acids supplied. This integrated biorefinery approach could reduce reliance on conventional petroleum-based plastics by making biodegradable polymers from waste streams.

2023 Bioresource Technology 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Bioplastics against Microplastics: Screening of Environmental Bacteria for Bioplastics Production

Researchers screened environmental bacteria for their ability to produce polyhydroxyalkanoate bioplastics, which are biodegradable alternatives to conventional petroleum-based plastics. Developing efficient bioplastic-producing strains is one strategy to reduce the long-term accumulation of persistent microplastics in the environment.

2023 Environmental sciences
Article Tier 2

Sustainable Polyhydroxyalkanoate Production from Food Waste via Bacillus mycoides ICRI89: Enhanced 3D Printing with Poly (Methyl Methacrylate) Blend

Not relevant to microplastics — this study develops a process for producing the bioplastic polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) from food waste using bacteria, then blends it with poly(methyl methacrylate) for use as a 3D printing filament.

2023 Polymers 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Production of biopolymers from microalgae and cyanobacteria

This review examines the production of biopolymers, particularly polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), from microalgae and cyanobacteria as sustainable alternatives to conventional petroleum-based plastics, synthesizing studies on biomass accumulation and production pathways. The authors discuss the properties, applications, and scalability challenges of microalgae- and cyanobacteria-derived bioplastics in the context of reducing plastic pollution and fossil fuel dependence.

2023 IWA Publishing eBooks 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhanced production of biobased, biodegradable, Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) using an unexplored marine bacterium Pseudohalocynthiibacter aestuariivivens, isolated from highly polluted coastal environment

Researchers isolated and characterised Pseudohalocynthiibacter aestuariivivens P96, a marine bacterium from a highly polluted coastal environment, finding it capable of producing poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) at up to 4.73 g/L corresponding to 87% of total cell dry weight, representing a promising bio-based and biodegradable alternative to fossil-fuel plastics.

2022 Bioresource Technology 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Biobased poly(3-hydroxybutyrate acid) composites with addition of aliphatic polyurethane based on polypropylene glycols

This study developed biodegradable composites by blending poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), a natural bioplastic produced by bacteria, with aliphatic polyurethanes to improve its mechanical properties and thermal stability. Improving bioplastic performance is important for replacing conventional petroleum-based plastics that persist in the environment.

2022 Acta of Bioengineering and Biomechanics 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Copolymers and Blends Based on 3-Hydroxybutyrate and 3-Hydroxyvalerate Units

This paper is not about microplastics. It reviews the biodegradable biopolymer PHBV (poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)), covering its production, properties, degradation behavior, and applications in various sectors. While PHBV is studied as a potential biodegradable alternative to conventional plastics, this paper focuses on polymer science and materials engineering rather than microplastic pollution.

2023 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Bio-Polyester/Rubber Compounds: Fabrication, Characterization, and Biodegradation

This paper is not about microplastics; it investigates biodegradable bioplastic blends made from polyhydroxybutyrate and natural rubber as potential alternatives to fossil-based plastics.

2023 Polymers 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolymer from crop residue using bacteria as an alternative to plastics: a review

This review examines how PHA, a biodegradable plastic made from crop waste using bacteria, could serve as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics. While PHA breaks down naturally unlike traditional plastics that fragment into microplastics, challenges remain in making it heat-stable and cost-competitive enough for widespread industrial use.

2025 RSC Advances 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Polyhydroxyalkanoates biosynthesis, resulting polymer structures, and plasticization

This review examines polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a class of biodegradable biopolymers synthesized by microorganisms, discussing strategies including plasticizers and monomer inclusion to overcome the brittleness and processing challenges of the most common PHA, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate).

2024
Article Tier 2

Cyanobacteria as a Promising Alternative for Sustainable Environment: Synthesis of Biofuel and Biodegradable Plastics

This review examines how cyanobacteria can serve as a sustainable platform for producing both biofuels and biodegradable plastics like polyhydroxyalkanoates, offering a dual approach to reducing carbon emissions and plastic pollution.

2022 Frontiers in Microbiology 91 citations
Article Tier 2

Switching from petro-plastics to microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA): the biotechnological escape route of choice out of the plastic predicament?

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.

2019 The EuroBiotech Journal 60 citations
Article Tier 2

Scalable Biosynthesis and Recovery of Poly-3-Hydroxybutyrate Produced from Cotton-Derived Glucose by Cupriavidus necator

Researchers used cotton-derived glucose as feedstock for biosynthesis of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (P3HB) by Cupriavidus necator in a 2-L bioreactor, finding that cotton-derived glucose produced more P3HB than commercial glucose with comparable thermal properties. A single-solvent extraction method was developed to simplify polymer recovery, supporting the potential for scaling up bio-based, biodegradable plastic production.

2025 Polymers
Article Tier 2

Properties and Degradation Performances of Biodegradable Poly(lactic acid)/Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) Blends and Keratin Composites

Researchers tested biodegradable blends of polylactic acid and polyhydroxybutyrate with added keratin waste as fillers, assessing how well the composites degrade. The work contributes to developing plastic alternatives that break down in the environment rather than persisting as microplastics.

2021 Polymers 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) production by Rhodopseudomonas sp. S16-VOGS3 cells grown in digested sludge

Researchers demonstrated that photosynthetic bacteria can be grown using nutrient-rich wastewater sludge as a low-cost medium, producing a biodegradable plastic called PHB (polyhydroxybutyrate) when phosphate becomes scarce. This approach offers a way to create eco-friendly bioplastics from waste materials, reducing reliance on petroleum-based plastics.

2023 Environmental Technology & Innovation 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Microbial degradation of polypropylene microplastics and concomitant polyhydroxybutyrate production: An integrated bioremediation approach with metagenomic insights

Researchers isolated microbial consortia capable of degrading polypropylene microplastics, achieving weight losses of up to 17.8% after 30 days of incubation. The most effective consortium also produced polyhydroxybutyrate, a biodegradable plastic alternative, while breaking down the polypropylene. Metagenomic analysis revealed abundant carbohydrate-active enzymes and oxidation pathways, suggesting an integrated bioremediation approach that simultaneously degrades plastic waste and generates a useful bioplastic.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 9 citations
Article Tier 2

PHA-Based Bioplastic: a Potential Alternative to Address Microplastic Pollution

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.

2022 Water Air & Soil Pollution 172 citations
Article Tier 2

Microbial Production of Biopolymer Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB): Current Challenges and its Application

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.

2023 Asian Journal of Chemistry 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Optimized Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) Production by Moderately Haloalkaliphilic Bacterium Halomonas alkalicola Ext

Researchers isolated a salt- and alkali-tolerant bacterium from a Kenyan lake and optimized its production of the biodegradable polymer PHBV as an alternative to conventional plastics. Through systematic optimization of growth conditions, they achieved a polymer yield of over 45% of the bacterial cell mass. The study demonstrates that extremophilic microorganisms can serve as efficient producers of biodegradable plastics suitable for packaging and biomedical applications.

2024 International Journal of Polymer Science 17 citations