Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Bacterial poly(hydroxy alkanoate) polymer and natural fiber composites
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Application No.: US12002001Application Date: 2007-12-12
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Publication No.: US07887893B2Publication Date: 2011-02-15
- Inventor: Sarah L. Billington , Craig S. Criddle , Curtis W. Frank , Margaret C. Morse , Sarah J. Christian , Allison J. Pieja
- Applicant: Sarah L. Billington , Craig S. Criddle , Curtis W. Frank , Margaret C. Morse , Sarah J. Christian , Allison J. Pieja
- Applicant Address: US CA Palo Alto
- Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
- Current Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
- Current Assignee Address: US CA Palo Alto
- Agency: Lumen Patent Firm
- Main IPC: C12P7/62
- IPC: C12P7/62 ; B27N3/02 ; B27N3/04 ; B27N3/12

Abstract:
A biocomposite is produced from natural fiber fabrics embedded in a matrix of biosynthetic polyhydroxy-alkanoate (PHA) polymers. The PHA is synthesized using aerobic microbial biosynthesis using mixed bacterial cultures and a feedstock containing anaerobic degradation products such as methane and volatile fatty acids derived from microbial biodegradation of organic waste materials, which may include waste biocomposites. Monomers may be added to the synthesized PHA polymer to control mechanical properties of the resulting biocomposite. The natural fibers and/or PHA may be pretreated using various techniques to improve the bond between the fibers and the PHA resin matrix and water absorption resistance of the fibers. The composite may be a laminate of treated and untreated fabric layers, or differently treated layers, to achieve good in-service performance as well as rapid and/or optimal biogas production when taken out of service and put in an anaerobic environment to degrade.
Public/Granted literature
- US20080160567A1 Bacterial poly(hydroxy alkanoate) polymer and natural fiber composites Public/Granted day:2008-07-03
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