{"references": ["M. Carus, \"Production capacities for bio-based polymers in Europe -\nstatus quo and trends towards 2020,\" Nova-Institute for Ecology and\nInnovation. Press release. July 2013.", "R. J. Van Wegen, Y. Ling, and A. P. J Middelberg, \"Industrial\nproduction of polyhydroxyalkanoates using Escherichia coli: An\neconomic analysis,\" Chemical Engineering Research and Design, vol.\n76, pp. 417-426, March 1998.", "C. S. K., Reddy, R. Ghai, Rashmi, and V. C. Kalia,\n\"Polyhydroxyalkanoates: an overview,\" Bioresource Technology, vol.\n87, pp. 137-146, April 2003.", "R. A. J Verlinden, D. J. Hill, M. A. Kenward, C. D. Williams, and I.\nRadecka, \"Bacterial synthesis of biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates,\"\nJournal of Applied Microbiology, vol. 102, pp. 1437\u20131449, June 2007.", "L. L. Madison, and G.W. Huisman, \"Metabolic engineering of poly(3-\nhydroxyalkanoates): from DNA to plastic,\" Microbiology and Molecular\nBiology Reviews, vol. 63, pp. 21-53, March 1999.", "H. Salehizadeh, and M. C. M. Van Loosdrecht, \"Production of\npolyhydroxyalkanoates by mixed culture: recent trends and\nbiotechnological importance,\" Biotechnology Advances, vol. 22, pp.\n261-279, January 2004.", "Y. Jiang, L. Marang, J. Tamis, M. C. M. van Loosdrecht, H. Dijkman,\nand R. Kleerebezem, \"Waste to resource: Converting paper mill\nwastewater to bioplastic,\" Water Research, vol. 46, pp. 5517-5530,\nNovember 2012.", "J. Tamis, L. Katlin, Y. Jiang, M. C. M. van Loosdrecht, and R.\nKleerebezem, \"Enrichment of Plasticicumulans acidivorans at pilot-scale\nfor PHA production on industrial wastewater,\" Journal of\nBiotechnology, to be published.", "N. Jacquel, C.-W. Lo, Y.-H. Wei, H.-S. Wu, and S. S. Wang, \"Isolation\nand purification of bacterial poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates),\" Biochemical\nEngineering Journal, vol. 39, pp. 15\u201327, April 2008.\n[10] L. A. Smith, K. J. Roberts, D. Machin, and G. McLeod, \"An\nexamination of the solution phase and nucleation properties of sodium,\npotassium and rubidium dodecyl sulphates,\" Journal of Crystal Growth,\nvol. 226, pp. 158\u2013167, June 2001.\n[11] R. Smith, Chemical process design and integration, pp. 17-31,\nChichester: John Wiley & Sons, 2005.\n[12] R. K. Sinnott, Coulson & Richardson's chemical engineering. Volume 6:\nchemical engineering design, fourth ed., pp. 246-279, Oxford: Elsevier,\n2005.\n[13] G. D. Ulrich, and P. T. Vasudevan, \"How to estimate utility costs,\"\nChemical Engineering, vol. 4, pp. 66-69, April 2006.\n[14] International Standards Organization (ISO), ISO 14040:2006,\n\"Environmental management. Life cycle assessment. Principles and\nframework,\" 2006a.\n[15] International Standards Organization (ISO), ISO 14044:2006,\n\"Environmental management. Life cycle assessment. Requirements and\nguidelines,\" 2006b.\n[16] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, \"Accounting framework for\nbiogenic CO2 emissions from stationary sources,\" Office of\nAtmospheric Programs, Climate Change Division, Washington, DC,\n2011.\n[17] P. Pawelzik, M. Carus, J. Hotchkiss, R. Narayan, S. Selke, M. Wellisch,\nM. Weiss, B. Wicke, and M. K. Patel, \"Critical aspects in the life cycle\nassessment (LCA) of bio-based materials\u2013Reviewing methodologies and\nderiving recommendations,\" Resources, Conservation and Recycling,\nvol. 73, pp. 211\u2013228, April 2013.\n[18] Y. Jiang, G. Mikova, R. Kleerebezem, L. A. M. van der Wielen, and\nM.C. Cuellar, \"Feasibility study of an alkaline-based chemical treatment\nfor polyhydroxyalkanoates purification from mixed enriched culture,\"\nunpublished.\n[19] D. Michael, \"Biodegradable polymer supply chains: implications and\nopportunities for agriculture,\" Wondu Holdings, Sydney, 2004.\n[20] J. Choi, and S. Y. Lee, \"Process analysis and economic evaluation for\nPoly(3-hydroxybutyrate) production by fermentation,\" Bioprocess\nEngineering, vol. 17, pp. 335-342, November 1997.\n[21] M. Akiyama, T. Tsugea, and Y. Doia, \"Environmental life cycle\ncomparison of polyhydroxyalkanoates produced from renewable carbon\nresources by bacterial fermentation,\" Polymer Degradation and Stability,\nvol. 80, pp. 183\u2013194, February 2003.\n[22] S. Y. Lee, and J. Choi, \"Effect of fermentation performance on the\neconomics of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) production by Alcaligenes latus,\"\nPolymer Degradation and Stability, vol. 59, pp. 387-393, January 1998.\n[23] J. A. Posada, J. M. Naranjo, J. A. L\u00f3pez, J. C. Higuita, and C. A.\nCardona, \"Design and analysis of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate production\nprocesses from crude glycerol,\" Process Biochemistry, vol. 46, pp. 310\u2013\n317, January 2011.\n[24] N. Gurieff, and P. Lant, \"Comparative life cycle assessment and\nfinancial analysis of mixed culture polyhydroxyalkanoate production,\"\nBioresource Technology, vol. 98, pp. 3393\u20133403, July 2007.\n[25] J. M. Naranjo, J. A. Posada, J. C. Higuita, and C. A Cardona,\n\"Valorization of glycerol through the production of biopolymers: The\nPHB case using Bacillus megaterium,\" Bioresource Technology, vol.\n133, pp.38\u201344, April 2013.\n[26] T. Mumtaz, N. A. Yahaya, S.Abd-Aziz, N. A. Rahman, P. L. Yee, Y.\nShirai, and M. A. Hassan, \"Turning waste to wealth-biodegradable\nplastics polyhydroxyalkanoates from palm oil mill effluent - a Malaysian\nperspective,\" Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 18, pp. 393-1402, June\n2010.\n[27] ICIS Pricing. http://www.icis.com/\n[28] M. Patel, C. Bastioli, L. Marini, and E. W\u00fcrdinger, \"Life cycle\nassessment of bio-based polymers and natural fibres composites,\"\nBiopolymers online, vol.10, January 2005.\n[29] R. Briones, L. Tai, E. Daoud, and J. Hart, \"Life Cycle Assessment.\nIdentifying process improvement opportunities and assessing\nalternatives,\" California environmental protection agency department of\ntoxic substances control, DTSC, Plastics Hazards Reduction Unit, June\n2011.\n[30] A. Liebich, and J. Giegrich, \"Eco-profiles of the European plastics\nindustry. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Bottle grade,\" Plastics\nEurope, Heidelberg, April 2010."]}

The biodegradable family of polymers polyhydroxyalkanoates is an interesting substitute for convectional fossil-based plastics. However, the manufacturing and environmental impacts associated with their production via intracellular bacterial fermentation are strongly dependent on the raw material used and on energy consumption during the extraction process, limiting their potential for commercialization. Industrial wastewater is studied in this paper as a promising alternative feedstock for waste valorization. Based on results from laboratory and pilot-scale experiments, a conceptual process design, techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment are developed for the large-scale production of the most common type of polyhydroxyalkanoate, polyhydroxbutyrate. Intracellular polyhydroxybutyrate is obtained via fermentation of microbial community present in industrial wastewater and the downstream processing is based on chemical digestion with surfactant and hypochlorite. The economic potential and environmental performance results help identifying bottlenecks and best opportunities to scale-up the process prior to industrial implementation. The outcome of this research indicates that the fermentation of wastewater towards PHB presents advantages compared to traditional PHAs production from sugars because the null environmental burdens and financial costs of the raw material in the bioplastic production process. Nevertheless, process optimization is still required to compete with the petrochemicals counterparts.