Glossary term

PHB

Polyhydroxy butyrate (PHB) is a Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), a polymer belonging to the polyesters class that are of interest as bio-derived and biodegradable plastics. PHB is produced by microorganisms – primarily as a product of carbon assimilation (from glucose or starch) and is employed by microorganisms as a form of energy storage molecule to be metabolized when other common energy sources are not available.