Bioreactor and process for forming polyhydroxybutyrate directly from depolymerized polyhydroxybutyrate
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorStephen Quirk
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bioreactor and process are disclosed for forming polyhydroxybutyrate directly from depolymerized polyhydroxybutyrate. In two bioreactor vessels, a microorganism product, such as one or more enzymes, are combined with the polyhydroxybutyrate-containing post-consumer product materials. The microorganism can naturally secrete the one or more enzymes or can be genetically modified to secrete the enzyme. The combination of enzymes is designed to facilitate a metabolic pathway that can depolymerize PHB, convert the resulting hydroxybutyrate to hydroxybutyryl-CoA, and in turn polymerize it into PHB. Namely, a solution for the recycling of polyhydroxybutyrate to hydroxybutyrate and back to polyhydroxybutyrate.
Claims14
A process for recycling biopolymers in polyhydroxyalkanoate family from a polyhydroxyalkanoate-containing post-consumer product comprising:
- within a first vessel, contacting a post-consumer product with an extremophilic microorganism suspension or an extremophilic depolymerase enzyme to supply a hydroxyalkanoate monomer, wherein the extremophilic depolymerase enzyme comprises 12 or less Cysteine residues, and wherein the extremophilic microorganism is either Lihuaxuella thermophila or Halomonas aquamarine;
- pumping the monomer through a filter to a second bioreactor vessel;
- and
- within the second vessel, contacting the monomer with an enzyme, producing a recycled polyhydroxyalkanoate.
A process for recycling biopolymers in polyhydroxyalkanoate family from a polyhydroxyalkanoate-containing post-consumer product comprising:
- within a first vessel, contacting a post-consumer product with an extremophilic microorganism suspension or an extremophilic depolymerase enzyme to supply a hydroxyalkanoate monomer, wherein the extremophilic microorganism or the extremophilic depolymerase enzyme is either Lihuaxuella thermophila or Halomonas aquamarine or purified therefrom;
- pumping the monomer through a filter to a second bioreactor vessel;
- and
- within the second vessel, contacting the monomer with an enzyme, producing a recycled polyhydroxyalkanoate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.