Disclosed herein are methods and compositions of matter that enable the biological conversion of gaseous waste streams (CO.sub.2, stranded natural gas, flue gas, biogas, landfill gas, etc.) to a platform chemical, 3-hydroxybutyrate, which can in turn be upgraded to fuels and polymers (e.g. polypropylene and polymers). The technology thus presents both a mechanism to valorize gaseous waste streams and establish sustainable production routes to chemicals and plastics via the overexpression of PHB depolymerase while knocking out the AACS pathway in this specific strain of methanotrophic bacteria.

The invention relates to methods for enriching monomer content in a cycloalkane oxidation process mixed organic waste stream. In particular, the methods involve combining a biocatalyst with a mixed organic waste stream from a cycloalkane oxidation process, and enzymatically converting dimeric and/or oligomeric components of said waste stream into monomeric components. The methods may enrich the content of diacids, adipic acid, and/or other α,ω-difunctional C6 alkanes in the mixed organic waste stream. Additionally, the treated mixed organic waste streams may have improved burning efficiency.

Provided is a resin sheet for thermoforming, the resin sheet containing a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) resin. A difference between a melting point peak temperature and a melting point peak end temperature in differential scanning calorimetry analysis of the poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) resin is 10° C. or more. The sheet has a thickness of 0.15 to 1 mm. The melt viscosity of the poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) resin at 160° C. is preferably 10000 poise or more.

The present invention relates to a method for treatment of poly hydroxy alkanoate (PHA) containing post-consumer product, the method comprising contacting a post-consumer product with a polypeptide that can catalyze degradation of the PHA, the contact taking place at a temperature at least 40? C. and in the presence of salt at a concentration of 1 M or greater. In a specific embodiment, the polypeptide is a wild-type PHA depolymerase expressed by a halophilic microorganism or a modified PHA depolymerase that includes one or more single-site mutations as compared to the wild-type PHA depolymerase. In another specific embodiment, the polypeptide comprising a modified poly hydroxy butyrate (PHB) depolymerase comprising one or more single-site mutations as compared to SEQ ID NO: 1, and the modified PHB depolymerase having a solubility of 10 mg/L or greater. The present invention also relates to a host cell transformed to express a polypeptide that catalyzes degradation of a PHA in the presence of salt at a concentration of 1 M or greater, wherein the host cell is selected from an E. coli cell or a halophilic microorganism.

The present invention relates to a method for treatment of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) containing post-consumer product, the method comprising contacting a post-consumer product with a polypeptide that can catalyze degradation of the PHA, the contact taking place at a temperature at least 45? C. In a specific embodiment, the poly peptide is a wild-type PHA depolymerase expressed by a thermophilic microorganism or a modified PHA depolymerase that includes one or more single-site mutations as compared to the wild-type PHA depolymerase. In another specific embodiment, the polypeptide comprising a modified poly hydroxy butyrate (PHB) depolymerase comprising one or more single-site mutations as compared to SEQ ID NO: 1, and the modified PHB depolymerase having an optimum temperature of at least 45? C. The present invention also relates to a host cell transformed to express a polypeptide that catalyzes degradation of a PHA, the polypeptide having an optimum temperature for the degradation reaction of at least 45? C., wherein the host cell is selected from an E. coli cell or a thermophilic microorganism.

A process is disclosed for production of a polyhydroxyalkanoate that includes depolymerization of a post-consumer polyhydroxyalkanoate and utilization of the hydroxyalkanoate monomer thus produced as a carbon source for a microorganism capable of production of a polyhydroxyalkanoate. Methods can be utilized for true cyclic use of polyhydroxyalkanoates including polyhydroxybutyrates. Various aspects are described including simultaneous depolymerization and polymer production, utilization of purified de-polymerase enzymes and/or microorganisms that express a depolymerase in conjunction with a microorganism that produces polymer, utilization of microorganisms that produce both a depolymerase and a new polymer, and utilization of genetically modified organisms to produce natural or modified depolymerase enzymes.

This disclosure relates to the field of bacterial strains and their ability to degrade lignocellulosic biomass. In a preferred embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a Geobacillus sp. strain. Notably, we have found that the Geobacillus sp. strain has the capability to simultaneously hydrolyze and ferment lignocellulosic biomass to form polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). Most preferably, the hydrolysis and fermentation to form PHA takes place in a single step.

The invention relates to methods for enriching monomer content in a cycloalkane oxidation process mixed organic waste stream. In particular, the methods involve combining a biocatalyst with a mixed organic waste stream from a cycloalkane oxidation process, and enzymatically converting dimeric and/or oligomeric components of said waste stream into monomeric components. The methods may enrich the content of diacids, adipic acid, and/or other ,-difunctional C6 alkanes in the mixed organic waste stream. Additionally, the treated mixed organic waste streams may have improved burning efficiency.

The present invention relates to a method for treatment of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) containing post-consumer product, the method comprising contacting a post-consumer product with a polypeptide that can catalyze degradation of the PHA, the contact taking place at a temperature at least 45 C. In a specific embodiment, the poly peptide is a wild-type PHA depolymerase expressed by a thermophilic microorganism or a modified PHA depolymerase that includes one or more single-site mutations as compared to the wild-type PHA depolymerase. In another specific embodiment, the polypeptide comprising a modified poly hydroxy butyrate (PHB) depolymerase comprising one or more single-site mutations as compared to SEQ ID NO: 1, and the modified PHB depolymerase having an optimum temperature of at least 45 C. The present invention also relates to a host cell transformed to express a polypeptide that catalyzes degradation of a PHA, the polypeptide having an optimum temperature for the degradation reaction of at least 45 C., wherein the host cell is selected from an E. coli cell or a thermophilic microorganism.

The present invention relates to a method for treatment of poly hydroxy alkanoate (PHA) containing post-consumer product, the method comprising contacting a post-consumer product with a polypeptide that can catalyze degradation of the PHA, the contact taking place at a temperature at least 40 C. and in the presence of salt at a concentration of 1 M or greater. In a specific embodiment, the polypeptide is a wild-type PHA depolymerase expressed by a halophilic microorganism or a modified PHA depolymerase that includes one or more single-site mutations as compared to the wild-type PHA depolymerase. In another specific embodiment, the polypeptide comprising a modified poly hydroxy butyrate (PHB) depolymerase comprising one or more single-site mutations as compared to SEQ ID NO: 1, and the modified PHB depolymerase having a solubility of 10 mg/L or greater. The present invention also relates to a host cell transformed to express a polypeptide that catalyzes degradation of a PHA in the presence of salt at a concentration of 1 M or greater, wherein the host cell is selected from an E. coli cell or a halophilic microorganism.