Duke/Projects/bp
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Contents |
Bioplastics Synthesis
Background and Motivation
With rising concerns over environmental pollution and energy shortages, there has been a greater push towards alternative energy and environmentally friendly production of useful materials. Currently, the production of petrochemical plastics not only ejects hazardous gases into the atmosphere but also generates considerable amounts of waste. Along with a strong desire to become independent of oil-based products, these concerns have paved the way for research into highly biodegradable and biocompatible bioplastics, such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a particular polymer that is formed natively in several strains of bacteria. This project seeks to improve the production of a certain PHA, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate, through the maximization of the desirable 4-hydroxybutyrate monomer. This is because a high ratio of 3-hydroxybutyrate produces a very crystalline and brittle plastic while high 4-hydroxybutyrate produces a very desirable elastomers.
