Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
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CHAPTER 4
Blends of
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs)
HEMA RAMACHANDRAN,
a,b
SHANTINI KANNUSAMY,
a
KAI-HEE HUONG,
a,d
RENNUKKA MATHAVA
a
AND
A.-A. AMIRUL*
a,c,d
a
School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang,
Malaysia;
b
Quest International University Perak, 30250 Ipoh, Perak;
c
Centre for Chemical Biology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang,
Malaysia;
d
Malaysian Institute of Pharmaceuticals and Nutraceuticals,
MOSTI, Malaysia
*Email: amirul@usm.my
.
4.1 Introduction
The current prominence of sustainability, eco-eciency and green chemistry
has generated a tremendous search for materials that are renewable and en-
vironmentally friendly. Biodegradable polymers offer a sustainable alternative
to petroleum-derived plastics. These polymers largely consist of ester, amide
and other functional groups. Biodegradable polymers can be classified into
four categories according to their synthesis process: (i) natural polymers (e.g.,
starch, cellulose, chitosan and protein), (ii) polymers synthesized from natural
monomers such as polylactide acid (PLA), (iii) polymers conventionally and
chemically synthesized from monomers obtained from petrochemical prod-
ucts (e.g., polycaprolactone) and (iv) polymers synthesized by microbes such as
polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) (Figure 4.1). The performance of these bio-
degradable polymers is usually enhanced and altered via blending.
1,2
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