POLY-HYDROXYALKANOATES (PHA): BIOLOGICAL COMPETITION TO PLASTIC WORLD

Abstract

Plastics are the most extensively used synthetic polymer due to its multi-specialized application due to its versatile nature and properties which make them useful in various fields ranging from construction of massive monuments, machinery parts, packaging products, kitchen appliances, day to day tools to children toys and, it has a high demand but being a mineral based polymer, it is difficult to balance supply to demand ratio. Moreover, its xenobiotic properties make it difficult to degrade plastics products thereby causing deleterious effect to environment and humans in the long run. There is constant need to find an alternative to this polymer which has similar properties to that of plastics but are biodegradable. One such promising class of bio-based polymer is Polyhydroxyalkanoate also known as PHA, greenplastic or biodegradable plastic polymer which fulfils the requirement and is not recalcitrant in nature and the use of polyhydroxyalkanoate is thus a step closer to green and clean earth. This review is an attempt to understand Polyhydroxyalkanoates or PHAs by summarising these aspects in order to understand the great potential thereby studying and understanding the complexities involved in PHA production starting from varied properties to its metabolism and their application.