Polyhydroxyalkanoate production methods and materials and microorganisms used in same
AssigneeNewlight Technologies, LLC
InventorMarkus D. Herrema
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to methods to generate microorganisms and/or microorganism cultures that exhibit the ability to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) from carbon sources at high efficiencies. In several embodiments, preferential expression of, or preferential growth of microorganisms utilizing certain metabolic pathways, enables the high efficiency PHA production from carbon-containing gases or materials. Several embodiments relate to the microorganism cultures, and/or microorganisms isolated therefrom.
Claims14
A method for modifying a functional characteristic of a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) material, the method comprising:
- providing a PHA comprising carbon and a biomass comprising carbon derived from one or more carbon-containing gasses;
- subjecting the PHA and/or the biomass to a processing step in order to render the at least a portion of the biomass miscible with the PHA;
- combining the PHA and the biomass in a mixture to form a compound, wherein the ratio of the biomass to the PHA in said PHA is between 1:1000 and 1000:1;
- heating the compound to between 40 degrees Celsius and 200 degrees Celsius;
- and
- causing, in response to the heating, the biomass to effect a functional modification of a first polymer and a second polymer of the PHA, wherein the functional modification comprises an increase in plasticization, nucleation, compatibilization, melt flow modification, strengthening, reduction of PHA crystallinity or rate of crystallization, increase in optical clarity, and/or elasticization.
A method for modifying a functional characteristic of a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) material, the method comprising:
- providing a PHA comprising carbon and a biomass comprising carbon derived from one or more carbon-containing gasses;
- subjecting the PHA and/or the biomass to a processing step in order to render the at least a portion of the biomass miscible with the PHA;
- combining the PHA and the biomass in a mixture to form a compound, wherein the ratio of the biomass to the PHA in said PHA is between 1:1000 and 1000:1;
- heating the compound to between 40 degrees Celsius and 200 degrees Celsius;
- and
- causing, in response to the heating, the biomass to effect a functional modification of a first polymer and a second polymer of the PHA, wherein the functional modification comprises an increase in nucleation and/or reduction of PHA crystallinity or rate of crystallization.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.