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Poly(L)lactide (PLLA), aliphatic polyester, and poly(LLA-co-DLLA) copolymers consisting of 2.5, 7.5, 50% of DLLA content were also synthesized. PLLA was successfully electrospun by using 15wt% solution in (1DMF:3CHCl3) mixed solvent. 2.5, 7.5, 50% P(LLA-co-DLLA) copolymers were then spun at 8, 10, and 15wt% concentration in a single chloroform solvent, respective. The lactide-based polymeric nanofibers were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Smooth surface morphology was observed in nanofibers produced from PLLA and 50% P(LLA-co-DLLA) copolymer. However, surface porosity was observed in the corresponding fibers from 2.5 and 7.5% P(LLA-co-DLLA) copolymers. These nanofibers have high potential for wide range of applications such as filter media, nano-sensor, drug delivery and tissue scaffold, especially, those derived from 2.5 and 7.5% P(LLA-co-DLLA) copolymers which contain high degree of porosity.

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is biodegradable polyester, which can be synthesized by many microorganisms through catabolic pathway, without producing any toxic byproduct. Owing to it special and versatile properties, this polymer has attracted much attention as a possible replacement for traditional plastics in the future. Feasibility of PHA production from inexpensive substrates was investigated by using Alcaligenes latus, gram negative bacteria, which can be grown in various types of wastewater. Four substrates were employed, i.e., wastewater from palm oil industry (oil-lean palm oil and oil-rich palm oil), wastewater from soymilk industry, and a control synthetic wastewater. The results show that PHA copolymer, poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) P(HB-co-HV), is produced from the metabolic pathways of A. latus. Soxhlet extractor was then employed in extraction process of the PHA copolymer. The resulting copolymer was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy.