Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) or the polyhydroxy fatty acids, are a family of biodegradableBiodegradation is the breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi. polyesters. As in many mammals, including humans, that hold energy reserves in the form of body fat there are also bacteria that hold intracellular reserves in for of polyhydroxy alkenoates. Here the microorganisms store a particularly high level of energy reserves (up to 80% of their own body weight) for when their sources of nutrition become scarce. By farming this type of bacteria, and feeding them on sugar or starchNatural polymer (carbohydrate) consisting of amylose and amylopectin, gained from maize, potatoes, wheat, tapioca etc. When glucose is connected to po... More (mostly from maize), or at times on plant oils or other nutrients rich in carbonates, it is possible to obtain PHA‘s on an industrial scale. [11] The most common types of PHA are PHBPolyhydroxy butyrate (PHB) is a Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), a polymer belonging to the polyesters class that are o... More (Polyhydroxy butyrate, PHBVPolyhydroxy butyrate (PHB) is a Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), a polymer belonging to the polyesters class that are o... More and PHBHPoly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) is a Polyhydroxyalkanoates type polymer. It is biodegradable, nontoxic, biocompatible plastic produced ... More. Depending on the bacteria and their food, PHAs with different mechanical properties, from rubbery soft trough stiff and hard as ABS, can be produced. Some PHSs are even biodegradableBiodegradation is the breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi. in soil or in a marine environment.