Poly(hydroxyalkanoates) from fluorescent pseudomonads in retrospect and prospect

Poly[(R)-3-hydroxyalkanoates] (PHAs) are biopolymers stored by bacteria, which are currently receiving much attention because of their potential as renewable and biodegradable plastics. Most well-known representatives are poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] and its copolymers with 3-hydroxyvalerate, which have been commercialized under the trademark Biopol. In addition to these rigid materials, the elastomeric medium-chain length PHAs (mcl-PHAs) produced by fluorescent Pseudomonads are now emerging. The present review aims to survey the important developments concerning research and application prospects of mcl-PHAs.