Biotechnological production of polyhydroxyalkanoates from glycerol: A review

Current worldwide threats related to global warming, climate change, and depletion of limited fossil resources necessitate the switch industry towards producing carbon-neutral chemicals, solvents, fuels, plastics. In this context, biotechnology offers alternatives established plastics from petrochemistry, namely microbial polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolyesters. PHA, circular in their nature, span a broad range material properties, which can be finetuned by biotechnological production strategy; way, PHA mimic both thermoplastics elastomers petrochemistry. However, it's still high costs that impede ultimate market penetration replace recalcitrant types Selecting inexpensive waste surplus materials diverse industrial sectors for being used as feedstocks is among most auspicious steps increase PHA's competitiveness with petrochemical glycerol, an abundant carbonaceous side stream steadily increasing biodiesel production, globally emerging purpose. The review article at hand provides overview how renewable, high-volume, low-value resource glycerol converted prokaryotic strains different structure properties highlights obstacles particular benefits when using biopolyesters synthesis, special emphasis dedicated recent developments, application naturally occurring organisms (wild type strains) isolated habitats.