Microbial production of polyhydroxyalkanoates and lactate-based biopolymers from C1 resources: current advances and trends

Abstract

With the advancement of industrialization, the environmental burden caused by non-biodegradable petroleum-based plastics has become increasingly severe. Biodegradable plastics have attracted considerable attention due to their inherent degradability and environmental compatibility, with significant potential for applications across food, agriculture, industry and medicine. However, the high production cost of biodegradable plastics remains a critical barrier to their large-scale commercialization. And the synthesis of bioplastics using cost-effective C1 resources has emerged as a promising solution. This review highlights recent progress in the microbial production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and lactate-based biopolymers derived from C1 substrates. Key advancements in microbial strain and process innovations are addressed, and characterization techniques and biodegradation mechanisms are summarized. And current challenges and future prospects for enhancing the sustainable production of PHAs and lactate-based biopolymers from C1 resources are discussed. This comprehensive overview offers viable strategies for promoting environmentally responsible alternatives to petroleum-based plastics and advancing global efforts toward carbon neutrality.