Microbial Polyesters

Chapter 1 Introduction

1.1 Microbial Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)

1.2 Microbial Poly(hydroxyalkanoates)

1.3 Environmentally Degradable Polyesters

References

Chapter 2 Fermentation and Analysis of Microbial Polyesters

2.1 Fermentation Production

2.1.1 Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)

2.1.2 Poly(hydroxyalkanoates)

2.2 Polymer Isolation

2.2.1 Solvent Extraction

2.2.2 Alkaline Hypochlorite Treatment

2.2.3 Enzyme Treatment

2.3 Analysis

2.3.1 Polyester Content of Cells

2.3.2 Composition of Copolymers

2.3.3 Molecular Weight

References

Chapter 3 Microorganisms and Poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates)

3.1 Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) in Microorganisms

3.1.1 Functions of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)

3.1.2 Structure of Native P(3HB) Granules

3.2 Biosynthesis of Poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates)

3.2.1 Alcaligenes eutrophus

3.2.2 Pseudomonas oleovorans

3.2.3 Other Bacterial Strains

3.3 Molecular Structures of Poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates)

3.3.1 Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyalerate)

3.3.2 Poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates-co-3-hydroxy--chloroalkanoates)

References

Chapter 4 Poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) Metabolism

4.1 Pathways of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) Synthesis

4.2 Pathways of Poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) Synthesis

4.3 Enzymology of Poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) Synthesis

4.3.1 3-Ketothiolase

4.3.2 Acetoacetyl-CoA Reductase

4.3.3 P(3HB) Synthase

4.4 Pathways of P(3-hydroxybutyrate) Degradation

4.5 Cyclic Nature of Poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) Metabolism

4.5.1 Replacement of P(3HB) by P(3HB-co-3HV)

4.5.2 Replacement of P(3HB-co-3HV) by P(3HB)

4.5.3 Application to PHA Fermentation

References

Chapter 5 Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate)

5.1 Alcaligenes eutrophus and Carbon Substrates

5.2 Molecular Structure

5.3 Biosynthetic Pathway

References

Chapter 6 Structure and Properties of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)

6.1 Crystal Structure and Properties

6.1.1 Crystal Structure

6.1.2 Solid-State Properties

6.2 Solution Properties

References

Chapter 7 Solid-State Properties of Copolyesters

7.1 Composition and Physical Properties

7.1.1 X-Ray Diffraction Analysis

7.1.2 Solid-State CP/MAS 13C-NMR Analysis

7.1.3 Mechanical Properties

7.2 Thermal Properties

7.2.1 Melting Temperatures

7.2.2 Glass-Transition Temperatures

7.2.3 Thermal Stability

7.3 Kinetics of Crystallization

References

Chapter 8 Biodegradation of Microbial Polyesters

8.1 Extracellular P(3HB) Depolymerase

8.1.1 Pseudomonas lemoignei

8.1.2 Alcaligenes faecalis

8.2 Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Copolyesters

8.3 Simple Hydrolysis of Polyesters

8.4 Applications and Prospects

8.4.1 Environmentally Degradable Plastics

8.4.2 Medical Applications

References

Index