FIG. 4.

Schematic diagram comprising the entire process for PHO production. (A) Fermentative production of PHO by P. putida GPo1; (B) separation of bacterial cells from the spent medium; (C) freeze-drying; (D) extraction of polymer by acetone (1); (E) filtration process; (F) distillation to concentrate the polymer solution and to recycle acetone for extraction of the polymer (1); (G) precipitation of the polymer by the methanol-plus-ethanol mixture (2). Polymer was then dried and prepared as shown in Fig. 3.