Abstract

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biocompatible and biodegradable polyesters synthesized by some organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and plants for carbon and energy storage. Among the PHA-producing bacteria, Bacillus, Cupriavidus, Pseudomonas, Burkholderia, Halomonas, and Paracoccus were selected in this review to study the last 10 years of PHA production. PHA yields, carbon source, strains, and their possible relationships were analyzed in 77 articles, finding more than 300 experiments which revealed carbohydrates and fatty acids are the most used substrates, while the highest yields (near 90 % PHAs/biomass), were obtained with engineered Halomonas (glucose), Cupriavidus necator (fructose:canola oi), and Bacillus megaterium (residual glycerol). Considering the extensive but fragmented data across bacterial strains, substrates, and PHA production, which makes systematic comparison difficult, this review aims to serve as a valuable resource by integrating basic information for the optimal selection of carbon sources and/or bacterial strains to produce PHAs efficiently.