Introduction of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and Their Application in the Textile Industry

Plastics have become an integral part of life because of their resistance to degradation. The non-degradable plastics have created problems for the environment and waste management. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have attracted a lot of attention as environmentally friendly plastics. They are plastics whose physical and mechanical properties are similar to petroleum- derived plastics, such as polyethylene and polystyrene. PHAs are an energy storage material that accumulate in microorganisms (Alcaligenes, Pseudomonas, Escherichia coli, etc.) under abnormal growth conditions, when sources, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and oxygen are available in low concentration and there is a lot of carbon. The excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability of PHAs cause their good potential in environmental sectors and biomedical, such as tissue engineering, surgical sutures, and wound dressings. In this chapter, the introduction and recent research on the production of PHAs and blends for using in the textile industry have been discussed.