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Poly(hydroxyalkanoates) from fluorescent pseudomonads in retrospect and prospect

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Abstract

Poly[(R)-3-hydroxyalkanoates] (PHAs) are biopolymers stored by bacteria, which are currently receiving much attention because of their potential as renewable and biodegradable plastics. Most well-known representatives are poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] and its copolymers with 3-hydroxyvalerate, which have been commercialized under the trademark Biopol. In addition to these rigid materials, the elastomeric medium-chain length PHAs (mcl-PHAs) produced by fluorescent Pseudomonads are now emerging. The present review aims to survey the important developments concerning research and application prospects of mcl-PHAs.

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  1. Institut für Biotechnologie, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule, ETH-Hönggerberg, CH 8093, Zürich, Switzerland

    Gertjan de Koning, Michele Kellerhals, Cisca van Meurs & Bernard Witholt

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  1. Gertjan de Koning
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de Koning, G., Kellerhals, M., van Meurs, C. et al. Poly(hydroxyalkanoates) from fluorescent pseudomonads in retrospect and prospect. J Environ Polym Degr 4, 243–252 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02070693

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