A THEMOGRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS FOR POLY(3-HYDROXYBUTYRATE) QUANTIFICATION

A simple and quick thermogravimetric analysis method has been suggeste d for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [PHB] quantification. During the analysi s, a rapid thermal degradation of PHB occurred in the range of 250 to 320 degrees C. From the gravimetric change during the thermal degradat ion, we could quantify PHB contents of various samples. Due to the sim ultaneous thermal degradation of cellular materials, the PHB contents were estimated slightly higher than those by gas chromatographic analy sis. We have proposed a way to compensate for such errors using a line ar correlation to allow accurate determination of PHB contents.