I totally agree with you and your interviewees that the real value for PHAs will be in high-value or low-volume applications where they have huge property advantages. (Coating paper that's already going to be pulped and recycled is a very intriguing example.)
I personally have a hard time seeing a really favourable value proposition for compostable materials in single-use packaging -- I think that's an area where we need to really focus on demand elimination (reduction or reuse).
The ultimate situation is where one can turn literal trash into something of value with a minimum of effort or energy / materials input. Wool's keratin materials, from what I recall, are a good example of this. When there's a huge process input, like PHAs made from bacteria grown on food waste, the value is less compelling. IMO.
Keep up the great work on this newsletter -- it always makes for informative and thought-provoking reading.
Hi Tony, thanks for the awesome article. Do you know what happens to the cell membrane of PHA-containing bacteria after being lysed by the other bacteria? Our products are accumulated on the cell membrane of an yeast cell (which is also different from bacteria's cell wall), so I'm curious if Bioextrax's method will be applicable in this situation?
I totally agree with you and your interviewees that the real value for PHAs will be in high-value or low-volume applications where they have huge property advantages. (Coating paper that's already going to be pulped and recycled is a very intriguing example.)
I personally have a hard time seeing a really favourable value proposition for compostable materials in single-use packaging -- I think that's an area where we need to really focus on demand elimination (reduction or reuse).
The ultimate situation is where one can turn literal trash into something of value with a minimum of effort or energy / materials input. Wool's keratin materials, from what I recall, are a good example of this. When there's a huge process input, like PHAs made from bacteria grown on food waste, the value is less compelling. IMO.
Keep up the great work on this newsletter -- it always makes for informative and thought-provoking reading.
Terrific paper, Tony, that even a non-chemist can find very interesting!
wow, this is super interesting. thanks for sharing.
Fascinating read. Please do update us on Bioextrax's progress. This method seems like a good alternative to DMC extraction.
Hi Tony, thanks for the awesome article. Do you know what happens to the cell membrane of PHA-containing bacteria after being lysed by the other bacteria? Our products are accumulated on the cell membrane of an yeast cell (which is also different from bacteria's cell wall), so I'm curious if Bioextrax's method will be applicable in this situation?