Practical Guide to Microbial Polyhydroxyalkanoates - Softcover

Sudesh, Kumar

9781847351180: Practical Guide to Microbial Polyhydroxyalkanoates

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1847351182 ISBN 13: 9781847351180

Publisher: iSmithers Rapra Publishing, 2010

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are plastic-like polymers produced naturally by many types of bacteria. PHA are among the most promising next generation plastics because they are biodegradable and can be produced using renewable resources. This Practical Guide to Microbial Polyhroxyalkanoates provides detailed information on the various microbial aspects that govern the design and synthesis of commercially useful PHA. Unlike chemical polymerisation processes, the microbial system involves multiple biological catalysts that convert renewable carbon sources into monomers and finally high molecular weight polymers in an aqueous environment and at ambient conditions. This rather complicated process will be described by giving specific and well-established examples along with new and recent findings. This book provides the reader with important information on the crystalline and solid-state structures of PHA as well as the physical and mechanical properties. This Practical Guide also gives information on the nature and mechanism of PHA biodegradation as these are the factors that will determine the final applications.

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About the Author:

Dr. Kumar Sudesh obtained his BSc in Zoology and MSc in Biotechnology from the National University of Malaysia and Malaya University, respectively. He then continued to do his PhD in Environmental Sciences under the supervision of Prof. Yoshiharu Doi in RIKEN and Saitama University, Japan. Later, he continued his research work as a Special Postdoctoral Fellow in the Polymer Chemistry Laboratory, RIKEN. Since 2001, Dr. Sudesh joined as a lecturer in Universiti Sains Malaysia where he is currently an Associate Professor in Microbiology and Biotechnology. He has close to 20 years of research experience on the microbial synthesis, characterization and application of polyhydroxyalkanoates.

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