Although their many disadvantages, plastic products are commonly used due to elasticity, waxy structure and cheapness.  But it is still very important environment pollutant. Many thousands tons plastics are thrown to sea every year.

After 1970’s petrol crisis, due to increase of petrol prices, alternatives to petrol origin polymers were searched. And in 1976, England Imperial Chemical Industry (ICI), started researches about Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) which is produced by bacterial fermentation

Nowadays, attention to bioplastics like PHB is increased due to their biodegradable, eatable, biocompatible and nature-friendly properties.

Many researches have showed that Alcaligenes, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium and Bacillus types produce and store Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate.

The first commercial production of PHB started in 1960’s but the first industrial production came true in 1970’s. The first produced commercial product was packed under name of “ BIOPOL”.

During these years, ICI examined may bacteria species as a potential PHB producer and started to use Alcaligenes eutrophus, which store a high amount of PHB,  in industrial production. Later, studies about PHB continued with Pseudomonas, Azotobacter, Hydrogenomonas, Chromatium and Bacillus.

• Usage Areas Of PHB (Bioplastic)
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