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. 17, 2015
Filed:
Nov. 23, 2011
James P. Nakas, Lafayette, NY (US);
Chengjun Zhu, Syracuse, NY (US);
Joseph A. Perrotta, Liverpool, NY (US);
Christopher T. Nomura, Syracuse, NY (US);
James P. Nakas, Lafayette, NY (US);
Chengjun Zhu, Syracuse, NY (US);
Joseph A. Perrotta, Liverpool, NY (US);
Christopher T. Nomura, Syracuse, NY (US);
Suny Research Foundation, Albany, NY (US);
Abstract
Methods are provided for producing biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) with desired geometry, molecular mass, mechanical and/or physical-chemical properties from glycerol, an inexpensive carbon source and byproduct of the biodiesel industry. Microorganisms capable of converting carbon to PHA can be used to convert biodiesel-glycerol to poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) or other monomer or copolymer PHAs via fermentation. The microorganisms are cultured in a medium comprising glycerol as a primary carbon source and one or more low molecular mass organic acids as a secondary carbon source. Biomass can be harvested from the culture medium and crude PHA extracted and purified, thereby recovering purified PHA with the desired property. After PHA isolation, a nucleating agent can be added to improve certain physical-chemical properties of the PHA, e.g., crystallization temperature, to enhance performance of the PHA during injection molding.