Depolymerization of a polyhydroxyalkanoate and recycling of hydroxyalkonoate monomer obtained thereby via a metabolic process

Abstract

A process is disclosed for production of a polyhydroxyalkanoate that includes depolymerization of a post-consumer polyhydroxyalkanoate and utilization of the hydroxyalkanoate monomer thus produced as a carbon source for a microorganism capable of production of a polyhydroxyalkanoate. Methods can be utilized for true cyclic use of polyhydroxyalkanoates including polyhydroxybutyrates. Various aspects are described including simultaneous depolymerization and polymer production, utilization of purified depolymerase enzymes and/or microorganisms that express a depolymerase in conjunction with a microorganism that produces polymer, utilization of microorganisms that produce both a depolymerase and a new polymer, and utilization of genetically modified organisms to produce natural or modified depolymerase enzymes.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.