Abstract: A retort food pouch is disclosed, including at least one sidewall and a pouch closure. The sidewall is a multi-layer structure which is made up of: (1) a biodegradable heat-sealable layer which includes polyhydroxyalkanoates; (2) a barrier layer which includes aluminum and/or polyhydroxyalkanoates; (3) optionally, a nylon layer; and (4) a biodegradable printed layer which also includes polyhydroxyalkanoates and/or cellulose. These layers are adhered together with one or more adhesives to form the multi-layer structure.

Abstract: A molded polymer article is disclosed which includes a first structural portion, a second structural portion, and a living hinge connecting the first structural portion and the second structural portion. Both structural portions and the living hinge are all integrally molded from a polymeric composition which includes: (1) from about 20 to about 95 weight percent of polyhydroxyalkanoates, (2) from about 5 to about 75 weight percent of a biodegradable polymer selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid, poly(butylene succinate), poly(butylene-succinate-co-adipate), poly(caprolactone), and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate), (3) from about 0.01 to about 5.0 weight percent of a nucleating agent, and (4) from about 0.01 to about 5.0 weight percent of at least one mold processing aid, such as a mold release agent.

Abstract: A cake material is disclosed, made up of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) cake that is formed directly from biomass and subsequent purification processes absent any heated drying step, with a moisture content of no less than about 5% by weight, and a Dv (90) particle size of no more than about 8 microns.

Abstract: A biodegradable aqueous mixture for coating substrates is disclosed, which includes from about 35 to about 75 weight percent water and from about 25 to about 65 weight percent solids. The solids in turn are made up of from about 40 to about 99 weight percent polyhydroxyalkanoates based on the total dry weight of the solids. Moreover, the polyhydroxyalkanoates are in the form of polyhydroxyalkanoate particles having a moisture content of no less than about 1% by weight prior to mixing with the water and a Dv (90) particle size of no more than about 10 microns, as determined using ISO 8130-13:2019.

Abstract: A biodegradable insect trap is provided which includes a substrate having a first surface, an adhesive applied over at least a portion of the substrate first surface, and an insect attractant. The substrate may be made up of either: (1) a polymeric web is in turn made up of at least 50 weight percent polyhydroxyalkanoates or (2) a paperboard web having a coating layer applied over a least a portion of the paperboard web, wherein the coating layer is made up of at least 50 weight percent polyhydroxyalkanoates. According to the present disclosure, the adhesive is also made up of at least 50 weight percent polyhydroxyalkanoates.

Abstract: A method for recovering polyhydroxyalkanoates from a biomass is disclosed. According to the method, polynucleotide chains are cleaved by addition of an endonuclease. A lysing agent is used to disrupt cell walls of the microorganism cells and release the intracellular polyhydroxyalkanoates from the cells. Proteins are also degraded by addition of a peptidase. The polyhydroxyalkanoates are then separated from cellular debris of the cells. According to the present disclosure, this method is carried out without the use of organic solvents in the cleaving, lysing, and degrading steps.

Abstract: A poly(hydroxyalkanoate) composition having a bimodal molecular weight distribution. The composition includes of a first portion and a second portion of a poly(hydroxyalkanoate). The first portion has a first weight average molecular weight and the second portion has a second weight average molecular weight which is at least 50 percent less than the first weight average molecular weight. The poly(hydroxyalkanoate) is made up of at least 10 mole percent monomer repeat units of 3-hydroxypropionate. A method for making the composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: A polymer composition is disclosed which composition includes at least a first polymer and a second polymer. The first polymer is made up of at least 10 mole percent repeat units of (3-hydroxypropionate). The second polymer is made up of a poly(hydroxyalkanoate) which does not include repeat units of (3-hydroxypropionate). A method for making the first polymer is also disclosed.

Abstract: A multi-layer packaging film structure is disclosed. This packaging film structure includes a barrier web made up of a barrier web core layer, a barrier web skin layer, and a packaging sealant layer. Each of the aforementioned film layers is biodegradable and/or compostable. At least one of the film layers is made up of at least 1 weight percent of poly(3-hydroxypropionate). The packaging film structure may also include a print web or a paperboard substrate.

Abstract: A polyester is disclosed which is made up of: (1) from about 15 to about 40 weight percent monomer repeat units of isosorbide; (2) from about 25 to about 60 weight percent monomer repeat units of a dicarboxylic acid or anhydride such as succinic acid or anhydride; and (3) from about 10 to about 20 weight percent monomer repeat units of a polyhydric alcohol such as 1,3-propanediol. In some instances, the polymer may also include monomer repeat units of methyl nadic anhydride or nadic anhydride. A polymer composition is also disclosed, which includes the polyester as well as a biodegradable polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(lactic acid), poly(hydroxyalkanoates), and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a home compostable extrusion coated substrate which includes a paperboard substrate having at least a first side and a layer of an extrusion coating applied over at least a portion of the first side. This extrusion coating is made up of from about 30 to about 99.5 weight percent of at least one poly(hydroxyalkanoate), and from about 5 weight percent to about 69.5 weight percent of at least one compostable polymer which is selected from the group consisting of poly(lactic acid), poly(caprolactone), poly(ethylene sebicate), poly(butylene succinate), poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate), poly(butylene adipate terephthalate) and mixtures thereof. Preferably, in accordance with the present disclosure, it is also preferred that the extrusion coated substrate is home compostable, as determined by ASTM D6868.

Abstract: It is intended to provide resin foamed particles having a high environmental compatibility. Furthermore, it is intended to provide an economical and easy-to-use method of producing resin foamed particles having biodegradability without using a crosslinking agent, which should be handled with care, in the step of producing foamed resin particles. It is also intended to provide a molded article made of foamed particles having an extremely high heat insulating property and a biodegradability. Thermoplastic polyester-type resin foamed particles, in which the ratio of cells with diameter of 50 ?m or less amounts to 20% or more in an arbitrary two-dimensional section of a thermoplastic polyester-type resin foamed particles, are first produced and then a molded article is produced with the use of these resin foamed particles.

Abstract: The object is to provide a molded product of foamed particles obtained by charging biodegradable resin foamed particles which are of vegetable origin and excellent in environmental compatibility into a mold, followed by heat molding, which molded product is not accompanied by post shrinkage after the molding with a wide range of variation of processing in the molding. Further, P3HA resin foamed particles being composed of a resin composition that comprises an isocyanate compound, and a polymer, poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate), having a recurring unit represented by the general formula (1): [—O—CHR—CH2—CO—]??(1) (wherein R represents an alkyl group represented by CnH2n+1, wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 15) produced by a microorganism are provided.

Abstract: It is intended to provide an easy-to-use, energy-saving and economical method of producing foamed resin particles having a high environmental compatibility by using an ether, which generates neither sulfur oxide nor sot in the course of disposal and incineration and enables considerable reduction in nitrogen oxide formation, and further using a resin which originates in a plant and contributes to the carbon dioxide fixation.

Abstract: Improved processes for extracting polyhydroxyalkanoate from a biomass containing the polyhydroxyalkanoate including the steps of: combining the biomass containing the polyhydroxyalkanoate with a solvent selected from lower chain ketones, and mixtures thereof to form a biomass liquor wherein the biomass liquor comprises less than about 25% water; mixing the biomass liquor for from about 10 to about 300 minutes at a temperature in the range of from about 70° C. to about 120° C.; separating the polyhydroxyalkanoate from the biomass liquor to form a PHA-enriched liquor, wherein the separating occurs at a temperature of at least about 40° C.; mixing the PHA-enriched liquor with water to form precipitated polyhydroxyalkanoate and an impure solvent liquor, wherein the water is mixed with the PHA-enriched liquor in the ratio of from at least about 0.4-1 parts of water to one part solvent; and recovering the precipitated polyhydroxyalkanoate from the impure solvent liquor.