polyhydroxyalkanoate

The hydrolytic degradation of polyhydroxyalkanoates, polylactide and their mixtures in vitro in physiological solution and phosphate-salt buffer as well was researched. The hydrolysis intensity of biopolymers was evaluated via the mass loss, change in molecular weight as well as the water absorption applying the methods of infrared spectroscopy and complex thermal analysis. It was determined that films based on the researched biodegradable polymers thermostated in a phosphate-salt buffer have been degrading faster than in physiological solution.

Biogenic surfactants (rhamnolipid biocomplex, dirhamnolipid and exopolysaccharide) and polyhydroxyalkanoate biopolymer which are the new biosynthesis products of Pseudomonas sp. PS-17 strain have been obtained. The thermal transformation of these products has been studied in the air in the temperature range of 293–1273 K. Thermolysis and IR spectroscopy revealed a formation of rhamnolipid biocomplex between rhamnolipids and exopolysaccharide upon acidification of the culture fluid supernatant to pH = 3. Cellular polymer – polyhydroxyalkanoate – was identified by UV-Vis spectroscopy.