Study of the molecular structure of polyhydroxybutyrate, a termoplastic and degradable biopolymer

The molecular structure of polyhydroxybutyrate from hydrogen-oxidizing bact eria Alcaligenes eutrophus was studied by X-ray diffraction analysis. It wa s shown that the degree of crystallinity of various samples depends little on the conditions of their preparation and is equal to 0.62-0.76. The molec ular structure of solid samples and solution of polyhydroxybutyrate in chlo roform were studied by the NMR and EPR methods. The conclusion is made that the molecular structure of polyhydroxybutyrate does not depend on the feat ures of the strain and conditions of carbon nutrition of microorganisms pro ducing polyhydroxybutyrate. Defects induced by gamma -radiation in polyhydr oxybutyrate were studied. Free radicals were isolated, and their structure was decoded.