Biography
Biography: Yash P. Khanna
Abstract
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are a new class of bioplastics that are produced by microbial bacteria as they ferment a variety of organic substrates ranging from naturally occurring oils to food wastes. Depending on the starting feedstock and the bacterial fermentation process, the chemical structure of PHA changes, thereby leading to a large variation in product performance. A number of companies around the globe have recently emerged with their plans targeting “Novel Manufacturing Processes” to “Commercial Applications”. The differentiating feature of PHA that sets this class apart from the rest is the “Biodgradability in Waters as well as under Ambient Conditions”, thus addressing Sustainability and Land-Ocean pollution issues confronting the society. This presentation will cover the latest on PHA technology and the current state-of-the-commercialization efforts.