Polyhydroxyalkanoates
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a family of naturally occurring, biodegradable polyesters synthesized by various prokaryotic microorganisms as intracellular granules for carbon and energy storage under nutrient-limited conditions.[1] These biopolymers, first identified in 1926 by Maurice Lemoigne and extensively studied since the 1980s, consist of repeating units of hydroxyalkanoic acids and can be tailored through microbial fermentation to produce materials with diverse physical properties.[1][2] PHAs are produced biotechnologically by bacteria such as Cupriavidus necator or Pseudomonas species using renewable carbon sources, including agricultural waste, sugars, or even carbon dioxide via cyanobacteria, often through controlled fermentation processes to accumulate up to 90% of the cell's dry weight. As of 2025, global PHA production capacity is approximately 50,000–70,000 metric tons annually, though this remains small compared to conventional plastics.[2][3] They are classified primarily into short-chain-length PHAs (scl-PHAs, 3–5 carbon atoms per monomer, e.g., poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) or PHB, which is rigid and brittle) and medium-chain-length PHAs (mcl-PHAs, 6–14 carbon atoms, which are more flexible and elastomeric).[1] Production challenges include high costs due to sterile conditions and downstream extraction, though advancements in mixed microbial cultures and waste-based feedstocks aim to improve economic viability.[2] The properties of PHAs make them highly versatile: they are thermoplastic or elastomeric, biocompatible, piezoelectric, and fully biodegradable in soil, marine, or compost environments without leaving microplastics, degrading via enzymatic hydrolysis into non-toxic monomers.[1] However, limitations such as PHB's narrow processing window (thermal instability near its melting point) and overall hydrophobicity can affect performance, often addressed through copolymerization (e.g., PHB-co-HV) or blending with other materials to enhance flexibility, impact resistance, and degradation rates.[2] Applications of PHAs span biomedical fields like tissue engineering scaffolds, drug delivery systems, and surgical implants due to their biocompatibility; in packaging as films, bottles, and bags for food and organic waste; and in agriculture or aquaculture for mulches and feed additives.[1] Emerging uses include geotextiles and cosmetics, leveraging their barrier properties and non-toxicity.[2] As sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics, PHAs contribute to a circular bioeconomy by reducing fossil fuel dependency and environmental pollution, with global production scaling up through industrial fermentation, though broader adoption hinges on cost reductions and regulatory support.[1] Their microbial origin and complete biodegradability position PHAs as key materials for decarbonizing sectors like packaging and biomedicine, potentially mitigating plastic waste accumulation in ecosystems.[2]Overview
Definition and Structure
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a family of intracellular polyesters synthesized by diverse bacteria and some archaea, such as species in the genera Haloferax and Haloterrigena, as carbon and energy storage compounds under unbalanced growth conditions.[4][5] These biopolymers accumulate as discrete granules within the microbial cytoplasm when carbon sources are abundant but essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, or oxygen are limited, allowing cells to store up to 90% of their dry weight as PHAs for later mobilization.[6][4] The chemical structure of PHAs is based on repeating monomeric units of 3-hydroxyalkanoic acids, forming linear polyester chains through ester linkages between the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups.[6] The general repeating unit can be represented as: \left[ -\ce{O-CH(R)-CH2-C(O)-} \right]_n where n denotes the degree of polymerization (typically 10,000 to 100,000) and R is an alkyl side chain, such as hydrogen (for polyhydroxypropionate), methyl (for polyhydroxybutyrate), or longer chains like ethyl or propyl.[4][6] These variations in R influence the polymer's physical properties, but the core backbone remains consistent across the PHA family.[4] PHAs exhibit stereoregularity due to the enzymatic synthesis process, with the chiral carbon at the 3-position predominantly in the R-enantiomer configuration, which contributes to their crystallinity and mechanical strength akin to synthetic thermoplastics.[6] This stereospecificity arises from the action of PHA synthases, ensuring optical purity that distinguishes biological PHAs from racemic synthetic polyesters.[4]History and Discovery
The first observation of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) granules occurred in 1888, when microbiologist Martinus Willem Beijerinck identified light-refractive inclusions in the cytoplasm of Bacillus species during microscopic examinations of bacterial cells.[7] These granules were initially noted as unusual cellular structures but were not chemically characterized at the time.[8] In 1926, French microbiologist Maurice Lemoigne isolated and identified the first specific PHA, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), from Bacillus megaterium, establishing it as a polyester composed of 3-hydroxybutyric acid monomers.[9] Lemoigne's work demonstrated that PHB accumulated as intracellular granules under nutrient-limited conditions, serving as a carbon and energy reserve.[10] Following this discovery, research interest in PHAs diminished until the mid-20th century, when studies in the 1950s and 1960s focused on microbial lipid inclusions, confirming their role as storage polymers through chemical analyses and extraction techniques developed by researchers such as Forsyth and Lundgren.[11] The 1970s oil crises sparked renewed interest in PHAs as potential biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics, prompting extensive research into scalable microbial production.[12] In 1976, Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) in the United Kingdom initiated development of a fermentation process for PHB using Alcaligenes eutrophus (now Cupriavidus necator), culminating in a key patent for its commercial production in 1981.[13] This effort led to the launch of Biopol, the first commercial PHA copolymer, in the late 1980s, though high production costs limited widespread adoption.[14] In the 1990s, Monsanto acquired ICI's PHA technology and patents from Zeneca in 1996, pursuing plant-based production of PHB in crops like canola and soybeans to reduce costs, but abandoned these efforts by the early 2000s due to economic challenges and low yields.[12] Interest revived in the 2000s through biotechnology firms, notably Metabolix, which partnered with Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) in 2004 to develop microbial fermentation for diverse PHAs, announcing plans in 2006 for the first large-scale commercial plant with an annual capacity of 110 million pounds.[15] This marked a shift toward engineered strains and renewable feedstocks, positioning PHAs for broader industrial viability.[16]Classification
Short-Chain-Length PHAs
Short-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates (scl-PHAs) are a subclass of polyhydroxyalkanoates characterized by repeating monomer units containing 3 to 5 carbon atoms.[17][1] These biopolymers are typically rigid and brittle thermoplastics due to their short side chains, distinguishing them from longer-chain variants.[1] The most prevalent scl-PHAs include poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), a homopolymer composed of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB, C4) units, and poly(3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHV), a homopolymer of 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV, C5) units.[1][6] Copolymers such as poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), which incorporate both 3HB and 3HV monomers in varying ratios, are also common and offer tunable properties based on composition.[1][18] The incorporation of monomers in scl-PHAs occurs through microbial metabolic processes. For PHB, two molecules of acetyl-CoA condense to form acetoacetyl-CoA, which is then reduced to (R)-3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA before polymerization.[19] PHV synthesis, in contrast, relies on propionyl-CoA as the key precursor, which can be derived from propionate or other odd-chain carbon sources and integrated into the polymer chain via similar enzymatic steps.[20] In PHBV copolymers, both acetyl-CoA and propionyl-CoA pathways contribute to the mixed monomer pool, allowing control over the 3HV content to adjust material characteristics.[21] Scl-PHAs exhibit high crystallinity, typically ranging from 50% to 90%, which contributes to their stiffness but can lead to brittleness.[22] PHB, for instance, has a melting point of approximately 175°C and a tensile strength of about 40 MPa, comparable to polypropylene.[23] These properties make scl-PHAs suitable for applications requiring thermal stability and rigidity, though the narrow gap between melting and decomposition temperatures poses processing challenges.[1] Primary producers of scl-PHAs are Gram-negative bacteria such as Cupriavidus necator (formerly Ralstonia eutropha), which can accumulate up to 80% of its dry cell weight as PHB under nutrient-limited conditions with excess carbon.[24][25] Other notable organisms include species from the genera Alcaligenes and Pseudomonas, though C. necator remains the most studied and efficient for industrial-scale PHB and PHBV production.[25][26]Medium-Chain-Length PHAs
Medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates (mcl-PHAs) are a subclass of bacterial polyesters characterized by repeating units of 3-hydroxyalkanoate monomers containing 6 to 14 carbon atoms (C6-C14), frequently occurring as copolymers with diverse monomer compositions.[27] Representative examples include homopolymers such as poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate) (PHO) and poly(3-hydroxydecanoate) (PHD), as well as copolymers like poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate-co-3-hydroxydecanoate) [P(3HO/3HD)].[28][29] The monomers are biosynthesized primarily through the β-oxidation pathway of fatty acids or de novo fatty acid synthesis, processes that often incorporate unsaturated or branched side chains into the polymer structure.[30][31] mcl-PHAs possess elastomeric qualities, including low crystallinity (typically 5-30%), glass transition temperatures typically ranging from -60°C to -30°C, and high elongation at break (up to 500%), which contribute to their flexible, rubber-like mechanical behavior.[32][33][34] These polymers are predominantly produced by Gram-negative bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas, with Pseudomonas putida serving as a key model organism due to its efficient accumulation of mcl-PHAs.[35]Biosynthesis
Natural Microbial Pathways
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are synthesized by a variety of bacteria through dedicated metabolic pathways that convert carbon sources into polymer granules stored intracellularly as carbon and energy reserves. These natural microbial pathways primarily involve the sequential action of enzymes that generate hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A (CoA) monomers, which are then polymerized into PHAs. The process is highly conserved across PHA-accumulating species, such as Cupriavidus necator, Pseudomonas spp., and Bacillus spp., and is activated under nutrient imbalance conditions to sequester excess carbon.[4] The key enzyme in PHA biosynthesis is PHA synthase (PhaC), a membrane-associated polymerase that catalyzes the final step of linking hydroxyacyl-CoA monomers into high-molecular-weight PHA chains via ester bond formation, releasing CoA. PhaC enzymes are classified into four classes (I–IV) based on their subunit composition, substrate specificity, and primary structure: Class I and II are typically homodimers or monomers (around 61–64 kDa), with Class I preferring short-chain-length (scl) monomers (C3–C5) and Class II favoring medium-chain-length (mcl) monomers (C6–C14); Classes III and IV are heterodimers consisting of a catalytic PhaC subunit (around 40 kDa) paired with PhaE or PhaR subunits, respectively, and generally incorporating scl monomers. This classification reflects evolutionary adaptations in different bacterial genera, such as Ralstonia for Class I and Pseudomonas for Class II.[36][37] The main biosynthetic routes diverge based on the carbon source and PHA type produced. For scl-PHAs like poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), synthesized via the acetyl-CoA pathway (Type I), the process starts in central metabolism where two molecules of acetyl-CoA are condensed by β-ketothiolase (PhaA) to form acetoacetyl-CoA, which is then stereospecifically reduced by acetoacetyl-CoA reductase (PhaB, an NADPH-dependent enzyme) to (R)-3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA; this monomer is subsequently polymerized by PhaC. A simplified representation of the PHB pathway is: $2 \text{ Acetyl-CoA} \xrightarrow{\text{PhaA}} \text{Acetoacetyl-CoA} \xrightarrow{\text{PhaB}} (R)\text{-3-Hydroxybutyryl-CoA} \xrightarrow{\text{PhaC}} \text{PHB} + n \text{ CoA} For mcl-PHAs, synthesized via fatty acid β-oxidation (Type III) or de novo fatty acid synthesis (Type II) pathways, monomers are derived from fatty acid metabolism, where enoyl-CoA hydratase (PhaJ) adds water across trans-2-enoyl-CoA intermediates from β-oxidation, yielding (R)-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA substrates for PhaC. These pathways enable bacteria to produce diverse PHA copolymers, such as poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), by incorporating varied hydroxyacyl units.[4][38][17] Carbon sources feeding these pathways include simple sugars like glucose, which are metabolized via glycolysis to pyruvate and then to acetyl-CoA; lipids such as fatty acids, processed through β-oxidation to generate enoyl-CoA intermediates; and alcohols, which can be oxidized to aldehydes and further to acyl-CoA. Bacteria like C. necator efficiently utilize glucose for scl-PHA accumulation, while Pseudomonas species excel with fatty acids or related substrates for mcl-PHAs, reflecting the pathway's flexibility to environmental nutrients.[39][38] PHA accumulation is tightly regulated by environmental cues, primarily excess carbon availability coupled with limitations in essential nutrients like nitrogen or phosphorus, which halt growth and redirect metabolic flux toward storage polymer synthesis. Under these conditions, global regulators such as the stringent response (via ppGpp) and nutrient-specific transcription factors upregulate pha operon expression, enhancing PhaA, PhaB, and PhaC activity. PHA granules form as hydrophobic inclusions within the cytoplasm, stabilized by phasin proteins (PhaP), which amphipathically bind the granule surface to control size, prevent coalescence, and modulate synthase access during polymerization; multiple PhaP isoforms can coexist on a single granule, influencing its biophysical properties. This regulated granule formation allows bacteria to store up to 80% of their cell dry weight as PHA without compromising viability.[40][41][42][43]Genetic and Metabolic Engineering
Genetic and metabolic engineering has significantly advanced the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) by modifying microbial hosts to improve biosynthesis efficiency and expand monomer diversity. A primary strategy involves the overexpression of key PHA biosynthetic genes, such as phaA (encoding β-ketothiolase), phaB (acetoacetyl-CoA reductase), and phaC (PHA synthase), often sourced from natural producers like Ralstonia eutropha. In Escherichia coli, heterologous expression of the phaCAB operon from R. eutropha enables PHA accumulation, with engineered strains achieving up to 80% of cell dry weight (CDW) as poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) under optimized conditions. Similarly, in yeast hosts like Saccharomyces cerevisiae, introduction of pha genes from bacterial sources allows PHA synthesis from lignocellulosic sugars, though yields typically range from 5-15% CDW due to compartmentalization challenges in eukaryotic cells.[44][45][46] Pathway engineering further enhances PHA yields by redirecting central carbon metabolism toward precursor accumulation and eliminating competing pathways. For instance, knocking out genes involved in glycolysis or the tricarboxylic acid cycle, such as ldhA (lactate dehydrogenase) and pflB (pyruvate formate-lyase) in E. coli, increases NADPH availability and carbon flux to PHA precursors, boosting PHB content to over 40% CDW. In Ralstonia eutropha (now Cupriavidus necator), metabolic modifications targeting the propionate assimilation pathway, including disruption of prpC genes, enable production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) copolymers directly from glucose, with 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) fractions up to 29 mol% and overall PHA accumulation reaching 69% CDW in fed-batch fermentations. Introducing PHA synthases from diverse bacteria, such as PhaC from Pseudomonas stutzeri into E. coli, facilitates incorporation of medium-chain-length monomers like 3-hydroxyoctanoate, yielding copolymers with tailored properties. Engineered strains utilizing inexpensive substrates like glycerol have demonstrated PHA contents up to 90% CDW, highlighting the scalability of these approaches.[45][47][48][49] Advanced tools like CRISPR-Cas9 have revolutionized precise gene editing for PHA engineering, enabling scarless deletions and insertions to optimize pathways. In C. necator, CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing has been used to disrupt PHA depolymerase genes (phaZ), resulting in hyperaccumulation of PHB up to 85% CDW by preventing intracellular degradation. Synthetic biology approaches, including modular pathway assembly and reversed β-oxidation cycles, allow the incorporation of novel monomers such as 4-hydroxybutyrate or unsaturated hydroxyalkanoates, expanding PHA structural diversity beyond natural limitations. These techniques, applied in hosts like Pseudomonas putida, have yielded copolymers with up to 20% novel monomer content from renewable feedstocks.[50][51]Production
Laboratory-Scale Methods
Laboratory-scale production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) primarily relies on controlled microbial fermentation in small-scale systems, such as shake flasks or benchtop bioreactors with working volumes of 1-10 L, enabling precise manipulation of environmental parameters to maximize PHA accumulation under nutrient limitation. These methods facilitate rapid experimentation and optimization for various PHA types, often using pure or mixed microbial cultures.[52] Fed-batch fermentation is the most widely adopted technique at this scale, involving an initial growth phase in batch mode followed by controlled, intermittent feeding of carbon sources to achieve high cell densities while avoiding substrate inhibition or catabolite repression. This strategy supports PHA contents of 20-80% of cell dry weight (CDW), with productivities typically ranging from 0.5 to 2 g/L/h depending on the strain and substrate.[53][54] Common substrates include pure carbohydrates like glucose or fructose, as well as low-cost alternatives such as waste oils (e.g., canola oil) or agro-industrial residues like banana peel hydrolysate, which promote tailored PHA copolymer synthesis. Nutrient limitation, particularly nitrogen or phosphorus restriction, is imposed during the feeding phase to redirect carbon flux toward PHA biosynthesis.[55][53] Post-fermentation, biomass is harvested via centrifugation, followed by extraction and purification. Chloroform is the standard solvent for laboratory extraction, where dried cells are incubated at 60°C to dissolve PHA, which is then precipitated with cold methanol or ethanol, achieving recoveries of 85-95%. Enzymatic digestion with proteases (e.g., proteinase K) or lysozyme offers a milder, eco-friendly alternative, selectively degrading non-PHA cell mass with yields up to 90%, though it requires longer incubation times (12-24 hours) at 37°C. Purification involves solvent evaporation under reduced pressure and repeated precipitation to remove impurities, ensuring polymer purity above 95%.[56][57] Analytical characterization employs nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to confirm monomer composition—for example, identifying 3-hydroxybutyrate (HB) and 3-hydroxyhexanoate (HHx) ratios in copolymers—and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) to determine molecular weight, with PHA samples typically exhibiting weight-average molecular weights (Mw) of 50,000-1,000,000 Da and polydispersity indices of 1.5-2.5.[58][59] Optimization focuses on maintaining pH at 6-7 via automated acid/base addition, temperature at 28-30°C for optimal enzyme activity, and aeration to sustain dissolved oxygen levels of 20-30% for aerobic strains, preventing oxygen limitation that could reduce yields by up to 40%. Safety considerations include sterile techniques to avoid contamination and proper handling of volatile solvents like chloroform in fume hoods. Engineered microbial strains, such as recombinant Escherichia coli expressing PHA synthase genes, can be integrated into these fed-batch setups to boost yields beyond native producers.[60][61][62]Industrial Processes
Industrial production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) primarily relies on microbial fermentation processes scaled to commercial levels, utilizing large bioreactors ranging from 100 to 500 m³ in volume. These processes typically employ either batch or continuous fermentation modes, with mixed microbial cultures (MMCs) favored for their ability to utilize low-cost, renewable feedstocks and reduce the need for sterile conditions compared to pure culture systems.[62][63][64] Key substrates in industrial PHA manufacturing include agro-industrial wastes such as sugarcane molasses and industrial effluents, which lower production costs by repurposing waste streams, alongside plant-based oils like canola oil for specific PHA variants. For instance, Danimer Scientific produces its Nodax™ PHA through fermentation of canola oil using proprietary microorganisms in large-scale facilities.[65][66][62] Downstream processing begins with cell disruption to release intracellular PHA granules, followed by solvent-free extraction methods such as supercritical CO₂ to achieve high-purity polymers without residual solvents, and concludes with drying and pelletization for commercial use. These steps are optimized for efficiency and sustainability, minimizing energy inputs and environmental impact in full-scale operations.[67][68] As of 2025, global PHA production capacity is approximately 50,000 tons per year, with manufacturing costs ranging from $4 to $6 per kg, influenced by feedstock prices and process efficiencies. Leading producers include TianAn Biologic in China, which operates a 2,000-ton annual facility focused on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and copolymers via fermentation, and RWDC Industries, which expanded its PHA plant in Athens, Georgia, USA, to support commercial-scale output starting in the early 2020s.[3][62][69][70]Properties
Physical and Mechanical Properties
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) exhibit a range of physical and mechanical properties that make them viable alternatives to conventional petroleum-based plastics such as polypropylene and polyethylene, though their behaviors vary significantly by chain length and composition. Short-chain-length PHAs (scl-PHAs), like poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), display thermoplastic characteristics with high crystallinity, while medium-chain-length PHAs (mcl-PHAs) are more elastomeric and amorphous. These properties are influenced by molecular weight, copolymerization, and processing conditions, enabling applications in molding and extrusion similar to synthetic polymers.[17]Thermal Properties
The thermal behavior of PHAs is characterized by their melting temperature (Tm), glass transition temperature (Tg), and decomposition temperature, which determine processability and stability during manufacturing. For scl-PHAs, such as PHB, the Tm typically ranges from 140°C to 180°C, with pure PHB exhibiting a Tm around 175–180°C, allowing melt processing without excessive degradation. In contrast, mcl-PHAs have lower Tm values, often between 40°C and 60°C, reflecting their softer, rubber-like nature. The Tg for scl-PHAs is relatively higher, around 0°C to 5°C for PHB, whereas mcl-PHAs show Tg values from -40°C to -30°C, contributing to flexibility at low temperatures. Thermal stability is generally good up to 250°C for most PHAs, with onset of decomposition occurring above 200–250°C under inert conditions, though exposure to oxygen can accelerate degradation. These parameters are commonly assessed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), which measures heat flow during phase transitions to quantify Tm and Tg precisely.[17]Mechanical Properties
Mechanically, PHAs span from rigid to flexible profiles depending on their type, with scl-PHAs being stiff and brittle, akin to polystyrene, while mcl-PHAs are tough and ductile, resembling elastomers. For PHB, the Young's modulus ranges from 0.5 GPa to 3.5 GPa, indicating high stiffness, with tensile strength around 30–40 MPa and elongation at break typically 3–8%, leading to brittle failure under strain. mcl-PHAs, however, exhibit much lower Young's modulus (0.005–0.1 GPa or 5–100 MPa) and tensile strength (10–20 MPa), but superior elongation at break of 200–500%, enabling high ductility and energy absorption. This contrast arises from the side-chain branching in mcl-PHAs, which reduces crystallinity and enhances toughness. Tensile properties are evaluated per ASTM D638 standards, involving standardized specimen testing to measure modulus, strength, and elongation under controlled conditions.[17]| Property | scl-PHAs (e.g., PHB) | mcl-PHAs |
|---|---|---|
| Young's Modulus | 0.5–3.5 GPa | 0.005–0.1 GPa |
| Tensile Strength | 30–40 MPa | 10–20 MPa |
| Elongation at Break | 3–8% | 200–500% |
| Behavior | Brittle, rigid | Ductile, flexible |