Papers

61,005 results
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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

PHBV cycle of life using waste as a starting point: from production to recyclability

This review examines PHBV, a biodegradable plastic made by bacteria from food waste, as a potential replacement for conventional petroleum-based plastics. Unlike traditional plastics that break down into persistent microplastics, PHBV can fully decompose in natural environments and be recycled in a circular economy. Switching to biodegradable alternatives like PHBV could help reduce the ongoing buildup of microplastic pollution that threatens human health.

2024 Frontiers in Materials 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Innovative co-production of polyhydroxyalkanoates and methane from broken rice

Researchers demonstrated a biorefinery approach using broken rice as feedstock, exploiting the acidogenesis phase of anaerobic digestion to produce volatile fatty acids for polyhydroxyalkanoate (a biodegradable plastic) biosynthesis by Cupriavidus necator, while co-generating methane from residual solids without requiring costly enzyme pre-treatment.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 21 citations
Article Tier 2

What Is New in the Field of Industrial Wastes Conversion into Polyhydroxyalkanoates by Bacteria?

This review covers recent advances in using bacteria to convert industrial food waste into polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a type of biodegradable bioplastic. Using industrial waste as feedstock for bioplastic production could reduce both plastic pollution and food industry waste simultaneously.

2021 Polymers 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Biogas conversion into biopolymers: strategies to boost process performance

This study explores how biogas — a renewable energy source from organic waste decomposition — can be used as a feedstock to produce biopolymers as alternatives to conventional petroleum-based plastics. Developing sustainable bioplastics from waste streams could help address both plastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions simultaneously.

2022 2 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

Production of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) by Haloferax mediterranei Using Candy Industry Waste as Raw Materials

Researchers explored using candy industry waste as a low-cost feedstock for the haloarchaeon Haloferax mediterranei to produce PHBV, a biodegradable polymer that could serve as an alternative to conventional plastics. They found that the microorganism could effectively convert sugar-rich waste streams into this bio-based material without requiring expensive precursor chemicals. The study presents a circular economy approach that simultaneously addresses food industry waste and plastic pollution.

2024 Bioengineering 17 citations
Article Tier 2

The synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates from low carbon wastewater under anaerobic-microaerobic process: effects of pH and nitrogen and phosphorus limitation

Researchers optimized conditions for producing polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) — biodegradable bioplastics — from wastewater using bacteria under anaerobic-microaerobic conditions. Controlling pH and nutrient levels significantly improved PHA production yield. This work advances the development of sustainable plastic alternatives made from waste materials.

2021 Environmental Engineering Research 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Production of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate-Co-3-Hydroxyvalerate) by Bacillus megaterium LVN01 Using Biogas Digestate

Researchers evaluated liquid biogas digestate as a carbon source for poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) production by Bacillus megaterium LVN01 in aerobic bench-scale batch fermentation, achieving maximum cell dry weight of 0.56 g/L at 60 hours and maximum PHB yield of 360 mg/L at 16 hours. GC-MS and NMR confirmed the PHBV copolymer composition of 3-hydroxybutyrate and 3-hydroxyvalerate monomers, with thermal analyses indicating properties suitable for biodegradable bioplastics applications.

2024 Preprints.org 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring Microorganisms from Plastic-Polluted Sites: Unveiling Plastic Degradation and PHA Production Potential

Researchers screened microorganisms from plastic-polluted sites for their ability to break down conventional plastics and produce a biodegradable alternative called PHA. They identified several bacterial strains capable of degrading synthetic polymers and simultaneously producing this bio-based plastic from waste materials. The study highlights the potential for using naturally adapted microbes from contaminated environments as tools for both plastic cleanup and sustainable material production.

2023 Microorganisms 21 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
Article Tier 2

Biotechnological model for ubiquitous mixed petroleum- and bio-based plastics degradation and upcycling into bacterial nanocellulose

Researchers demonstrated a biotechnological approach for breaking down mixed petroleum-based and bio-based plastic waste and converting it into valuable bacterial nanocellulose. The system used engineered microbial communities to simultaneously degrade different plastic types that are typically difficult to recycle together. The study presents a promising model for sustainable end-of-life management of mixed plastic waste streams, addressing a key challenge in reducing plastic pollution.

2024 Journal of Cleaner Production 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB) from Alternative, Scalable (Waste) Feedstocks

This study compares two biodegradable bioplastics (P3HB) made from waste feedstocks — one produced by cyanobacteria using sunlight and CO2, the other by methane-eating bacteria — and finds both have thermal and mechanical properties on par with conventionally produced P3HB. The relevance to microplastics is indirect: switching to genuinely biodegradable plastics made from waste gases could reduce the long-lasting microplastic particles generated by conventional petroleum-based polymers.

2023 Bioengineering 12 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

Towards polyhydroxyalkanoates synthesis with mixed microbial communities: exploring the uncoupled feeding strategy

This research explored mixed microbial communities for polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastic synthesis as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics. The study examined uncoupled feeding strategies to improve PHA yields from microbial consortia in waste-based feedstocks.

2025 Florence Research (University of Florence)
Article Tier 2

Production of single-cell-protein (SCP) / poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) matrices through fermentation of archaea Haloferax mediterranei

This study produced a combined single-cell protein and biodegradable biopolymer (PHBV) matrix using archaea grown on hydrolyzed bread waste, simultaneously generating a sustainable protein source and a biodegradable bioplastic precursor from food waste. The approach offers a circular bioeconomy alternative to petrochemical plastics.

2023
Article Tier 2

Low-quality animal by-product streams for the production of PHA-biopolymers: fats, fat/protein-emulsions and materials with high ash content as low-cost feedstocks

Researchers explored using low-quality animal by-product waste streams — including fats, fat-protein emulsions, and high-ash materials — as low-cost feedstocks for producing PHA biopolymers, a biodegradable alternative to conventional plastics that could reduce both production costs and waste disposal burden.

2020 Biotechnology Letters 34 citations
Article Tier 2

A Biodegradable Composite of Poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) with Short Cellulose Fiber for Packaging

Researchers developed biodegradable composite materials by incorporating short cellulose fibers into PHBV biopolymer, addressing the polymer's narrow processing window and improving its suitability for sustainable packaging applications.

2023 Materials Research 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Two Birds with One Stone: Bioplastics and Food Waste Anaerobic Co-Digestion

Researchers investigated anaerobic co-digestion of bioplastics with food waste, finding that certain bioplastics can be simultaneously degraded while boosting biogas yields, supporting circular economy goals by turning both waste streams into renewable energy.

2022 Environments 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Bioconversion of whey to Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA): Process Optimization and Yield Enhancement

Researchers investigated the microbial biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoate using cheese whey as a substrate with a novel Stutzerimonas stutzeri strain, optimising the process to enhance PHA yield as a biodegradable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics.

2025
Article Tier 2

Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Bioplastics and Food Waste under Mesophilic and Thermophilic Conditions: Synergistic Effect and Biodegradation

Researchers investigated anaerobic co-digestion of bioplastics (PLA and PHA) with food waste under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions, finding synergistic effects that enhanced methane production yields, demonstrating that co-digestion could be an effective strategy for managing bioplastic waste while generating renewable energy.

2022 Fermentation 32 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

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

Prospective LCA to provide environmental guidance for developing waste-to-PHA biorefineries

Researchers used life cycle assessment to map out how future biorefineries could produce biodegradable plastics (polyhydroxyalkanoates, or PHA) from waste streams with up to 50% lower environmental impact compared to business-as-usual, provided supportive environmental policies are in place. The study identifies how well plastic is extracted from the microbial biomass as the single biggest factor controlling the process's environmental footprint.

2022 Journal of Cleaner Production 40 citations