Polyhydroxyalkanoates for solidification of unsaturated oils

Overview

Ingeniería en Proyectos Sustentables ZE is developing an innovative solution to increase the viscosity of unsaturated oils using polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a class of naturally occurring biodegradable biopolyesters. By integrating PHA powders with unsaturated edible oils, the viscosity is enhanced to a level where the oil-PHA mixture transitions from a liquid to a solid state. This technology opens new opportunities for using liquid plant oils in solid applications, potentially replacing hydrogenated or saturated oils with a more sustainable and biodegradable alternative.

Technical specifications

• Key components: Utilizes poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) and poly-3-hydroxybutyrate co-3-hydroxyhexanoate, both commercially available PHAs.
• Process: The method involves mixing PHAs with unsaturated oils to form a solid mixture at moderate PHA loadings.
• Customization: Future experiments will vary PHA molecular weight, monomer composition, and loading percentage to optimize properties.
• Rheological testing: Viscosity and cohesion properties are measured using a plate/plate rheometer across a range of temperatures and shear rates.

Technology readiness level

This technology is currently at TRL 4, indicating that it has been validated in a laboratory environment. Future validation includes a comprehensive design of experiments to optimize formulations and explore the potential of non-commercially available PHAs through fermentation.