Towards a Greener Future: GC-MS Analysis of Poly-3-Hydroxybutyrate (P3HB) Content in PANICUM VIRGATUM.
Date of Award
2009
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Natural Sciences
First Advisor
Scudder, Paul
Keywords
Poly-3-hydroxybutanoate, Biodegradable Plastics, Butanolysis, Biopolymers
Area of Concentration
Chemistry
Abstract
Plastic production has increased markedly over the last hundred years. With greater consumption rates today, than ever before, serious attention to the consequential and fringe effects of the plastic industry has provoked the scientific interests of ecologically minded individuals. A non-polluting alternative is the use of plants to produce plastics that are biodegradable, easily commercialized, and specialized for aesculapian applications. In the formulation of a more benign product, the performance integrity and properties of traditional plastics remains uncompromised. Butanolysis is a primary screening technique for the presence of poly-3- hydroxybutyrate in the early life cycles of a plant. At Metabolix, (Cambridge, MA.), extensive analysis of transgenic plant samples revealed five batches containing P3HB quantities in targeted ranges for economic competitiveness with traditional synthetics. Of the five batches, the most promising samples were forwarded to the engineering team for advancing the P3HB biofactory pathway, and improving the efficiency of downstream commercialization.
Recommended Citation
Seuraj, Adesh, "Towards a Greener Future: GC-MS Analysis of Poly-3-Hydroxybutyrate (P3HB) Content in PANICUM VIRGATUM." (2009). Theses & ETDs. 4180.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/4180