1. What is PHA?
PHA is a general term for a large class of materials that synthesize intracellular polyesters by a large number of bacteria. PHA is a completely degradable new biological material, and it is also the only carbon-neutral biodegradable material that is completely biosynthesized. After PHA products enter the ocean, they can be completely degraded naturally in about 1-3 years. Compared with ordinary plastics, it takes hundreds of The annual degradation cycle is greatly accelerated. Meanwhile, pure PHA products are harmless to marine and terrestrial animals and can even be eaten by animals. Due to the variety of PHA monomers, the material properties of PHA vary greatly. Some PHA materials have unique biocompatibility, optical isomerism and other properties, which make them widely used in medicine, agriculture and other fields. potential.
Second, the application of PHA Environmentally friendly packaging materials PHA has good biodegradability and decomposition products, all of which can be bioavailable. Specific applications are degradable garbage bags, shopping bags, disposable lunch boxes, etc. On May 12, 2021, California-based materials innovation company Cove announced plans to launch the first water bottle made entirely of biodegradable material PHA within the year, which may be the first mass-produced PHA water bottle on the market.
In March 2021, Skittles maker Mars Wrigley announced that it would partner with Danimer Scientific to launch fully biodegradable PHA packaging in the U.S. by the end of this year or early 2022. The packaging will be made from rapeseed and soybean and other plant seeds to make NodaxPHA polyhydroxyalkanoate degradable material.
Agriculture
PHA is hydrolyzable and biodegradable, and is specifically used in slow-release carriers of agricultural drugs, chemical fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, agricultural films, etc. PHA agricultural film has been applied to crops such as garlic, cotton, peanuts, blueberries, ice vegetables, dry rice and other crops in many provinces in North China, Northwest China and Northeast China, covering an area of nearly 3,500 mu.
Medicine
Taking advantage of the biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-rejection, non-toxin and other properties of PHA, it is specifically used in sutures, repair devices, repair patches, bandages, cardiovascular patches, orthopedic needles, anti-adhesion membranes, stents, guiding tissue Repair/regeneration equipment, articular cartilage repair scaffolds, nerve conduits, tendon repair devices, artificial esophagus and wound dressings, etc.
The absorbable suture (TephaFLEX) based on P4HB was approved by the US FDA in 2007, becoming the world's first commercialized PHA medical product. At present, the world is intensively studying the application of PHA in tissue engineering, implant materials, drug sustained release carriers and other fields.
Industry
PHA is biodegradable and biocompatible, and is used in razors, utensils, diapers, feminine hygiene products, home decoration materials, carpets, etc. in the industrial field.
On May 3, 2021, TerraVerdae Bioworks, a leading Canadian bioplastics company, announced the global launch of a new PHA-based resin for customer application needs for the material. New bio-based resin formulations are available for blown film, injection molding processes.
In addition to the above application fields, PHA is also used in chemicals, industrial enzymes, energy, environmental governance, etc.
According to statistics, the major producers of PHA in the world include: Biomers of Germany, Kaneka of Japan, Danimer of the United States, RWDC of Singapore, Newlight of the United States and Ningbo Tianan Biomaterials of China, Blue Crystal Microorganisms, Zhuhai Mai Desheng Biotechnology, Microstructure Factory, etc. .
