<p class="title">Scientists have successfully synthesised a polymer that is typically produced by bacteria, algae and other microorganisms, an advance that may lead to renewable and biodegradable plastics.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The compound called bacterial poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) - or P3HB - shows early promise as a substitute for petroleum plastics in major industrial uses.</p>.<p class="bodytext">P3HB is a biomaterial, typically produced by bacteria, algae and other microorganisms, and is used in some biomedical applications.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Its high production costs and limited volumes render the material impractical in more widespread commodity applications, however.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Researchers from Colorado State University in the US used a starting material called succinate, an ester form of succinic acid.</p>.<p class="bodytext">This acid is produced via fermentation of glucose and is first on the U.S. Department of Energy's list of top 12 biomass-derived compounds best positioned to replace petroleum-derived chemicals.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The new chemical synthesis route produces P3HB that's similar in performance to bacterial P3HB, but their route is faster and offers the potential for large-scale, cost-effective production for commodity plastic applications.</p>.<p class="bodytext">This new route is enabled by a class of powerful new catalysts they have designed and synthesised. Researchers have filed a provisional patent. </p>
<p class="title">Scientists have successfully synthesised a polymer that is typically produced by bacteria, algae and other microorganisms, an advance that may lead to renewable and biodegradable plastics.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The compound called bacterial poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) - or P3HB - shows early promise as a substitute for petroleum plastics in major industrial uses.</p>.<p class="bodytext">P3HB is a biomaterial, typically produced by bacteria, algae and other microorganisms, and is used in some biomedical applications.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Its high production costs and limited volumes render the material impractical in more widespread commodity applications, however.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Researchers from Colorado State University in the US used a starting material called succinate, an ester form of succinic acid.</p>.<p class="bodytext">This acid is produced via fermentation of glucose and is first on the U.S. Department of Energy's list of top 12 biomass-derived compounds best positioned to replace petroleum-derived chemicals.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The new chemical synthesis route produces P3HB that's similar in performance to bacterial P3HB, but their route is faster and offers the potential for large-scale, cost-effective production for commodity plastic applications.</p>.<p class="bodytext">This new route is enabled by a class of powerful new catalysts they have designed and synthesised. Researchers have filed a provisional patent. </p>