US4477655A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Moulding of poly-hydroxybutyrate containing bacterial cell fragments
Assignee: Syngenta Ltd
•
Filing: 1983-03-25
•
Granted: 1984-10-16
•
Expires: 2003-03-25
Abstract
Abstract Shaped articles can be made by extruding, or injection moulding, a composition containing at least 50% by weight of dried cells of a micro-organism containing a beta -hydroxybutyrate polymer. In order to make the composition melt processable the cells are subjected to a cell wall breakage step before or after drying and, if necessary, are mixed with an extracted beta -hydroxybutyrate polymer.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul A. Holmes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 09:44
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12N; C12N1/00; C12N1/005; C08; C08L; C08L67/00; C08L67/04; C12P; C12P7/00; C12P7/62; C12P7/625
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A process for the production of a shaped article comprising forming a composition containing (i) at least 50% by weight of dried cells of a micro-organism containing at least 30% by weight of a β-hydroxybutyrate polymer containing at least 50 mole % of β-hydroxybutyrate residues in the polymer chain, said dried cells having been subjected to a cell wall breakage process, before or after drying, and (ii) sufficient, if any, of an extracted β-hydroxybutyrate polymer containing at least 50 mole % of β-hydroxybutyrate residues in the polymer chain, such that the composition has a melt flow time, as herein defined, of not more than 15 minutes, and thereafter forming said shaped article by melt processing, extrusion or injection moulding, said composition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A process for the production of a shaped article comprising forming a composition containing (i) at least 50% by weight of dried cells of a micro-organism containing at least 30% by weight of a β-hydroxybutyrate polymer containing at least 50 mole % of β-hydroxybutyrate residues in the polymer chain, said dried cells having been subjected to a cell wall breakage process, before or after drying, and (ii) sufficient, if any, of an extracted β-hydroxybutyrate polymer containing at least 50 mole % of β-hydroxybutyrate residues in the polymer chain, such that the composition has a melt flow time, as herein defined, of not more than 15 minutes, and thereafter forming said shaped article by melt processing, extrusion or injection moulding, said composition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said composition contains at least 70% by weight of said dried cells.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said dried cells contain at least 40% by weight of said β-hydroxybutyrate polymer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said composition contains no extracted β-hydroxybutyrate polymer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said dried cells are produced by subjecting an aqueous suspension of said micro-organism containing at least 30% by weight of said β-hydroxybutyrate polymer to a cell breakage step and thereafter drying said suspension.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 5 wherein the cell wall breakage process includes an autolysis step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to claim 6 wherein the cell wall breakage process comprises autolysis followed by a cell wall breakage step involving shearing of the cells.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3036959A
Cited
US3044942A
Cited
US3107172A
Cited
US3275610A
Cited
US4101533A
Cited
US4310684A
Cited
US4324907A
Cited
US4391766A
Cited
US4324880A
Cited
US4358583A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-10-16 | 1988-04-16 | 1988-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-10-16 | 1992-04-16 | 1992-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-10-16 | 1996-04-16 | 1996-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |