| Title |
Sustainable polyhydroxyalkanoates in the bioeconomy: a review of recent advances in production innovations, economic feasibility, and patents landscape |
| Authors |
Fadipe, Theresa Yetunde ; Amobonye, Ayodeji ; Pillai, Santhosh |
| DOI |
10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149528 |
| Full Text |
|
| Is Part of |
International journal of biological macromolecules.. Amsterdam : Elsevier. 2026, vol. 337, pt. 1, art. no. 149528, p. 1-19.. ISSN 0141-8130. eISSN 1879-0003 |
| Keywords [eng] |
Biodegradation ; Circular bioeconomy ; Extremophiles ; Green solvents ; Metabolic engineering ; Non-sterile ; Renewable feedstocks |
| Abstract [eng] |
In light of the global environmental crisis caused by traditional plastics and their pollution, there is an urgent need for sustainable alternatives to plastics derived from fossil fuels. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) is a microbial intracellular energy reserve with the potential to replace petroleum-based plastics and reduce environmental pollution. PHA exhibits mechanical and thermal properties comparable to petroplastics, with the added advantages of biodegradability and biocompatibility. Furthermore, their physicochemical versatility makes them suitable for a wide range of applications, including eco-friendly packaging, agricultural mulch films, and innovative medical devices. However, large-scale PHA adoption remains constrained by production costs, as well as by challenges in scalability, feedstock supply, and downstream extraction, which all culminate in an uncompetitive minimum selling price (MSP) estimated at $4-8/kg. Considering the aforementioned, this review aimed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of strategies for enhancing PHA production efficiency within a circular bioeconomy framework. It examines intrinsically diverse microbial communities that produce PHA, fermentation strategies, feedstock diversification, and green recovery techniques. It also evaluated emerging application trends and industrial potential, focusing on more than 20 PHA-related patents filed between 2020 and 2025. Finally, this study examined the economic feasibility of PHA production and identified feasible pathways toward more cost-competitive adoption of the biopolymer. |
| Published |
Amsterdam : Elsevier |
| Type |
Journal article |
| Language |
English |
| Publication date |
2026 |
| CC license |
|
