A life-cycle assessment of poly-hydroxybutyrate extraction from microbial biomass using dimethylcarbonate

Plastic materials have wide commercial applicability. However, they are made from non-renewable resources and are characterised by resistance to degradation. Poly-hydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) provides one example of a polymer biodegradable, biocompatible and produced from renewable raw materials. With respect to other bioplastics the share of PHAs in the market is very limited because of their commercial costs.

To develop more cost effective processes for PHAs production, a multilevel a pproach is usually undertaken combining innovative, cheaper and more effective cultivation with safe and cheap extraction and purification methodologies. This study assesses the potential environmental impacts related to a production processes based on the novel protocol to extract PHAs comparing them to the impacts of extraction process based on the use of ha logenated hydrocarbons.