The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 15, 2011
Filed:
Dec. 12, 2007
Sarah L. Billington, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Craig S. Criddle, Cupertino, CA (US);
Curtis W. Frank, Cupertino, CA (US);
Margaret C. Morse, Stanford, CA (US);
Sarah J. Christian, Stanford, CA (US);
Allison J. Pieja, Stanford, CA (US);
Sarah L. Billington, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Craig S. Criddle, Cupertino, CA (US);
Curtis W. Frank, Cupertino, CA (US);
Margaret C. Morse, Stanford, CA (US);
Sarah J. Christian, Stanford, CA (US);
Allison J. Pieja, Stanford, CA (US);
The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A biocomposite is produced from natural fiber fabrics embedded in a matrix of biosynthetic polyhydroxy-alkanoate (PHA) polymers. The PHA is synthesized using aerobic microbial biosynthesis using mixed bacterial cultures and a feedstock containing anaerobic degradation products such as methane and volatile fatty acids derived from microbial biodegradation of organic waste materials, which may include waste biocomposites. Monomers may be added to the synthesized PHA polymer to control mechanical properties of the resulting biocomposite. The natural fibers and/or PHA may be pretreated using various techniques to improve the bond between the fibers and the PHA resin matrix and water absorption resistance of the fibers. The composite may be a laminate of treated and untreated fabric layers, or differently treated layers, to achieve good in-service performance as well as rapid and/or optimal biogas production when taken out of service and put in an anaerobic environment to degrade.