About this Research Topic
Plastics have become an integral part of our daily lives. Consequently, more than a million tons of single-use polymers and microbeads have been dumped into and have persisted in the environment for hundreds of years. Through the disintegration process, via sea, sand, sun and soil, microplastics have been generated, leading to the ubiquitous exposure of biota to these microplastics. Recently, innovative strategies have been proposed, such as upcycling, recycling and reuse, to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of plastic waste management. To deal with the increasing environmental deterioration by petrochemical-based polymers, biodegradable polymers have been considered green materials to replace the traditionally used polymers. Among them, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are the only ones that demonstrate true biodegradability in soil, fresh water and marine environments. However, the production of PHAs on an industrial scale remains a bottleneck compared to the large scale industrialization of petrochemical-based plastics. To fill this research gap, the information provided in this research topic, in all aspects of biotechnology and microbial technology, will highlight some of the opportunities that are emerging from recent discoveries and developments.
This research topic will focus specifically on low-cost PHAs production platforms, development of their biocomposites and biodegradability of these polymers in soil, freshwater, marine environments, industrial compostable bioplastic and home & garden composting. Within the scope of this research topic, you are welcome to submit current developments in the form of research, review and brief note articles. The technical platform developments focusing on innovative approaches and Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economy-based research are welcome. Nevertheless, novel results should be highlighted and demonstrated.
This Research Topic accepts articles related, but not limited to, the following areas:
• Development of high throughput screening method for the discovery of new genes involving biosynthesis and biodegradation of PHAs
• Process development based on biochemical engineering, metabolic engineering, synthetic biology engineering approaches as well as novel approaches.
• Advanced systems and processes for extraction and purification of biodegradable polymers with low cost and low toxicity.
• Co-production of biodegradable polymers and other value-added products.
• Demonstration of biodegradability, characterization of decomposing microbes and the enzymes involved in the degradation process.
• Degradation and recycling of biodegradable polymers and their biocomposites.
• Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biodegradable polymer manufacturing process.
The Topic Editors have declared no conflicts of interest in relation to this Research Topic.
This research topic will focus specifically on low-cost PHAs production platforms, development of their biocomposites and biodegradability of these polymers in soil, freshwater, marine environments, industrial compostable bioplastic and home & garden composting. Within the scope of this research topic, you are welcome to submit current developments in the form of research, review and brief note articles. The technical platform developments focusing on innovative approaches and Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economy-based research are welcome. Nevertheless, novel results should be highlighted and demonstrated.
This Research Topic accepts articles related, but not limited to, the following areas:
• Development of high throughput screening method for the discovery of new genes involving biosynthesis and biodegradation of PHAs
• Process development based on biochemical engineering, metabolic engineering, synthetic biology engineering approaches as well as novel approaches.
• Advanced systems and processes for extraction and purification of biodegradable polymers with low cost and low toxicity.
• Co-production of biodegradable polymers and other value-added products.
• Demonstration of biodegradability, characterization of decomposing microbes and the enzymes involved in the degradation process.
• Degradation and recycling of biodegradable polymers and their biocomposites.
• Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the biodegradable polymer manufacturing process.
The Topic Editors have declared no conflicts of interest in relation to this Research Topic.
Keywords: biodegradable polymers, single use polymers, plastics, green materials, biocomposites
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
