From waste to self-healing concrete: A proof-of-concept of a new application for polyhydroxyalkanoate

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production is a promising opportunity to recover organic carbon from waste streams. However, widespread application of waste-derived PHA as biodegradable plastic restricted by expensive purification steps, high quality requirements, and fierce competition with the conventional market. To overcome these challenges, we propose new for PHA, using it bacterial substrate in self-healing concrete. Self-healing concrete an established technology developed inevitable problem crack formation structures, incorporating so-called bacteria-based healing agent. Currently, this hampered cost involved preparation This study provides proof-of-concept use The results show that PHA-based agent, produced unsuitable thermoplastic applications, can induce specimens, thereby reducing water permeability cracks significantly compared specimens without For first time two emerging fields engineering, concrete, both driven need environmental sustainability, are successfully linked. We foresee will facilitate implementation technology, while simultaneously supplying circular potentially more affordable raw materials