TECHNOLOGY MAPPING PROCESS OF GETTING THE PHB THROUGH ANALYSIS OF PATENT APPLICATIONS
The PHAs are the only polymers of microbial origin fully biodegradable. They are synthesized by various microorganisms, possessing, after extraction, properties similar to polypropylene. The PHB is the polymer more common of PHAs and historically has been most studied, is obtained from the bacterium Cupriavidus necator by fermentation of glucose in the midst of limiting source of nitrogen or phosphate. Due to the economic importance of this biopolymer, the objective of this study was to analyze the potential, characteristics and evolution of technological competence, translated through documents of patents, as regards to obtaining the PHB in the period from 1979 to 2010. For both, were analyzed data bank of Spacenet, of the Derwent Innovations Index, of the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the National Institute of Industrial Properties. A search in relation to annual evolution of patents deposited, the origin of the technology, the owners of the technology and the major inventors. The codes of International Patent Classification (IPC) of higher incidence in the Spacenet databases and INPI are class C12 (biochemistry and mutations for genetic engineering) and C08L (compositions of organic compounds macromolecular), respectively. In the databases searched, the companies have deposited more documents that universities and research centers, with the years of 2006 and 2009 the most relevant. Of the surveyed countries, the United States showed the highest number of records (34 %). Brazil still has a few patents in the area, requiring more incentives aimed at increasing the innovative scenario of the country.