Method for recovery of stabilized polyhydroxyalkanoates from biomass that has been used to treat organic waste

摘要

The invention is directed to a method of increasing the chemical and/or thermal stability of PHA in biomass where the biomass is contained within mixed liquor, and wherein the mixed liquor is treated by a combination of removing water from the mixed liquor and pH adjustment of the mixed liquor or maintenance of the pH of the mixed liquor within a selected pH range, and wherein the method includes reducing the pH of the mixed liquor below 6, or maintaining the pH of the mixed liquor below 6 for a selected period of time, and wherein the pH adjustment of the mixed liquor to below 6 or the maintenance of the pH of the mixed liquor below 6 gives rise to an increase in chemical and/or thermal stability of the PHA in the biomass.

主权项

1. A method of recovering polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) from biomass contained in mixed liquor and increasing the thermal stability of PHA in the biomass prior to subjecting the PHA and biomass to elevated temperatures in a PHA recovery process, the method comprising;
a) increasing the thermal stability of the PHA in the biomass, without substantially degrading the biomass, in order to reduce the thermal decomposition of the PHA in the recovery process by:
(1) acidifying the mixed liquor containing the biomass to a value below pH 6; and(2) concentrating the biomass in the mixed liquor by dewatering the mixed liquor to form a concentrated mixed liquor; b) recovering the PHA from the biomass by dissolving the PHA in an organic solvent at a temperature above 100° C.; wherein said organic solvent is a non-chlorinated organic solvent.