Production and modification of medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoate for commercial applications

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A growing market pull for renewable and biodegradable products, both in Canada and internationally, has generated interest in the use of biodegradable polymers by the aerospace, automotive, construction, packaging and other sectors. Therefore, the overall objective of this research is to identify and characterize microbially synthesized polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHAs) polymers that may be suitable for commercial applications. The versatility of PHA polymers allows for production of films, molds, and resins with a wide range of industrial applications. Our industrial partner, Minto BioProducts Ltd, has specific interest in the use of PHA polymers as bioresins in biocomposite materials and as biodegradable packaging films. Current biocomposites are produced with natural fibres and petroleum-based resins, thus we aim to produce a fully "green" biocomposite using mcl-PHA resins. In the packaging industry there is a need for oxygen and moisture barrier layers, and to improve the production of film packaging a film, which provides both high oxygen and moisture barriers is sought. The specific, short-term objectives of this research are to: 1) Improve mcl-PHA production through high cell density reactor strategies; 2) Determine the physical and thermal properties of mcl-PHA polymers with different monomer compositions derived from bacteria cultured with different substrates; 3) Improve the molecular mass yield of the polymers through chain extension; 4) Modify mcl-PHA containing olefin groups to create polymers with novel physical and/or thermal properties; 5) Prepare biocomposite materials containing selected mcl-PHAs and cellulose fibres; and 6) Characterize the intra-and inter-molecular bonding/cross-linking between the PHA polymer chains and/or with cellulose fibres. Minto BioProducts will work closely with the University of Manitoba researchers to develop these materials. Success of this research will place Minto BioProducts Ltd at the leading edge of renewable and biodegradable polymer production, and make the company competitive in the growing biopolymer sector of the Canadian and global bioproducts market.