Challenges and opportunities of the hydrogen ecosystem in relation to greenhouse gas emissions

Abstract

The presentation Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs): Definition and Industrial Applications” focused on a critical analysis of the use of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) in industrial applications, emphasizing that, in productive contexts such as Colombia, employing PHAs in their purified form is not viable since extraction and purification account for the highest proportion of production costs. The presenter explained that, instead of seeking applications based on the isolated polymer, it is more efficient and functional to use PHAs in their crude extract, that is, by leveraging the complete microbial matrix and its associated metabolites as a bioactive conglomerate.

During the presentation, it was highlighted that this systemic approach preserves valuable physicochemical properties without the need for costly purification steps, while also promoting synergistic interactions among biomass, biopolymers, and biosurfactant compounds generated during cultivation. This model is particularly suitable for countries where operational costs limit the competitiveness of purified bioplastics. The presenter introduced two industrial applications where this approach has shown significant potential: wastewater treatment—where PHA-producing microorganisms, used without purification, facilitate the formation of robust biofilms, enhance organic matter removal, and improve system stability under variations in influent composition—and the petroleum industry, where crude PHA extracts contribute to reducing crude oil interfacial tension, improving its mobility, and supporting microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) strategies through the combined action of polymers and biosurfactants present in the matrix.

Overall, the presentation emphasized that the use of PHAs as an unpurified crude matrix constitutes a more realistic, economical, and efficient alternative for the Latin American industrial context, aligning with the principles of circular economy and sustainable bioprocessing.