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Introduction and Background

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Polyhydroxyalkanoates Biopolymers

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Molecular Science ((BRIEFSBP))

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Abstract

The usage of synthetic plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene was initiated by mankind to enhance the quality and comfort of life without realizing their ubiquitous nature. Now they have become an essential part of contemporary life and are being used increasingly in different industrial applications due to their unique characteristics of strength, durability and resistance to chemicals. The high molecular weight appears to be the main reason for the resistance of these plastics to biodegradation and perseverance in soil for a longer period of time. This non-biodegradable nature of synthetic plastics and dependency on fossil fuels for their production have driven the search for alternative sustainable biotechnological solution with lower environmental impact. In this regard, Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are considered as best alternatives as they are produced by fermentation of renewable feedstock and are completely biodegradable. However, despite the considerable research work on PHAs, only limited success has been achieved so far. The main bottleneck in successful utilization of PHAs is their high cost of production. This book chapter presents general introduction on PHAs and their types, and how they came into existence.

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  1. Department of Microbiology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India

    Geeta Gahlawat

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  1. Geeta Gahlawat
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Correspondence to Geeta Gahlawat .

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Gahlawat, G. (2019). Introduction and Background. In: Polyhydroxyalkanoates Biopolymers. SpringerBriefs in Molecular Science(). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33897-8_1

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