Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) based biopolymers: properties, applications and biodegradation

Plastic pollution has emerged as a critical environmental challenge, with over 400 million metric tons of plastic produced annually, leading to significant impacts on environmental matrices and human health. In response, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)-based biopolymers have gained attention as sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics. Derived from various renewable resources, PHAs offer significant advantages, including biodegradability, biocompatibility, and non-toxic characteristics, allowing them to be applied in diverse sectors, including packaging, agriculture, and biomedicine. They also have the potential to be degraded through both biotic and abiotic processes. This chapter aims to provide an overview of PHA bioplastics, detailing their chemical and mechanical properties, diverse applications, and the challenges posed by their high crystallinity and brittleness for both applications and biodegradation. Furthermore, it explores the degradation mechanisms facilitated by specific microorganisms and enzymes, emphasizing the factors that influence biodegradability across different environmental conditions.