Pyrolysis of bacterial polyalkanoates

Abstract

Pyrolysis products from bacterial polyesters, poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), and from a heteropolyester (β-hydroxyvalerate and β-hydroxybutyrate) were identified. Different physical forms of PHB were studied: PHB purified by dissolution in chloroform, native granules of PHB, and PHB in bacterial cells. The products were characterized by gc, ms, and nmr analysis. The yield of crotonic acid obtained by the pyrolysis of purified PHB was 60 to 65%. Pyrolysis of PHB native granules yielded crotonic acid as well as oligomers of PHB with a terminal crotonate. Upon direct pyrolysis of dry bacterial cells, the yield of crotonic acid was 20 to 25% of the PHB in the cells. From the heteropolymer, 2-pentenoic acid and terminally unsaturated oligomers of polyhydroxyvalerate were obtained. The usefulness of the pyrolysis method for obtaining vinyl compounds from bacterial cultures containing polyalkanoates is discussed.