(12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (19) World Intellectual Property Organization International Bureau (10) International Publication Number (43) International Publication Date WO 2016/058097 Al 21 April 2016 (21.04.2016) P O P C T (51) International Patent Classification: oj; 104-10615 40th Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T6J 2W3 C08L 67/04 (2006.0 1) C12N 1/20 (2006.0 1) (CA). B33Y 70/00 (201 5.01) C12P 7/62 (2006.01) (74) Agent: ROACH, Mark; 709 Main Street, Suite 300, Can- C08J3/20 (2006.01) D01B 9/00 (2006.01) more, Alberta T1W 2B2 (CA). (21) International Application Number: (81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every PCT/CA2015/051036 kind of national protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM, (22) International Filing Date: AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BH, BN, BR, BW, BY, 14 October 2015 (14.10.201 5) BZ, CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DO, DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT, English (25) Filing Language: HN, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IR, IS, JP, KE, KG, KN, KP, KR, (26) Publication Language: English KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS, LU, LY, MA, MD, ME, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI, NO, NZ, OM, (30) Priority Data: PA, PE, PG, PH, PL, PT, QA, RO, RS, RU, RW, SA, SC, 62/122,23 1 15 October 2014 (15. 10.2014) US SD, SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TH, TJ, TM, TN, (71) Applicant: TERRAVERDAE BIOWORKS INC. TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA, ZM, ZW. [CA/CA]; 35 Oxford Street, Suite 101, Baie d'Urfe, (84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every Quebec H9X 2T6 (CA). kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH, (72) Inventors: BARDOSH, William; 29 Hart Street, Beverly, GM, KE, LR, LS, MW, MZ, NA, RW, SD, SL, ST, SZ, Massachusetts 01915 (US). MCKENZIE, Ryan; 507- TZ, UG, ZM, ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, RU, 9918 101 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2L1 (CA). TJ, TM), European (AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, MEKONNEN, Tizazu; Unit 2106, 950 Arbour Lake DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, Road, Calgary, Alberta T3G 5B3 (CA). NERKAR, Man- LV, MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, [Continued on nextpage] (54) Title: BIODEGRADABLE POLYMER FILAMENT © 00 Fig. 2 © v (57) Abstract: A process for manufacturing a biodegradable polymer filament product, the process comprising: a) isolating polyhy o droxyalkanoate from a bacterial culture; b) optionally bleaching the polyhydroxyalkanoate; c) dispersing the polyhydroxyalkanoate in a surfactant solution to form a dispersion; d) drying the dispersion to obtain dried polyhydroxyalkanoate particles; e) mixing the o polyhydroxyalkanoate with a plurality of components including a toughening agent, a plasticizer, a nucleating agent, an antioxidant and an adhesive; f) extruding the mixture as a filament; and g) winding the filament onto a spool. w o 2016/058097 Al III II II 11 I Illlll 111 III III I Illlll lllll Hill lllll llll llll 11llll SM, TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ, Published: GW, KM, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG). — with international search report (Art. 21(3)) Declarations under Rule 4.17: — as to applicant's entitlement to apply for and be granted a patent (Rule 4.1 7(H)) Biodegradable Polymer Filament CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62/122,231 , filed on October 15, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention is in the technical field of plastic materials. More specifically, the present invention is in the field of plastic filaments. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Plastic filaments, which are generally defined as threads of plastic, are used to manufacture a wide range of products including, but not limited to, stranded ropes, tooth brush bristles, fabric materials and plastic ties. Plastic filaments are also widely used as feedstocks for three dimensional (3D) printers, and the types of plastics most widely used for this application are typically acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polylactic acid (PLA). ABS is a synthetic copolymer made by polymerizing styrene and acrylonitrile in the presence of butadiene. PLA is a synthetic biopolymer that is typically manufactured from renewable resources such as corn starch and sugar cane. [0004] ABS filaments for 3D printing are generally preferred for printing materials intended to have mechanical uses due to its superior strength, flexibility, machinability and temperature resistance. A significant drawback to ABS is that unpleasant and hazardous odors are produced as it is extruded. It has been shown that ultrafine particulate fumes are produced at a level that is ten times higher when ABS filaments are used in 3D printers than for PLA-based filaments (Stephens et al. 2013. Ultrafine particle emissions from desktop 3D printing. Atmospheric Environment. 79:334-339). PLA filaments are generally available in a wider range of colors and translucencies, which makes them attractive for printing materials intended for display purposes or household uses. However, while PLA meets the ASTM D6400 standard for compostability, which requires that 60% conversion of the plastic's carbon is reduced to carbon dioxide within 6 months, it will only biodegrade quickly if composted in an industrial composting facility configured to heat the material above 60 °C with constant feeding of digestive microbes. PLA does not decompose at an effective rate in simple composting systems. [0005] While past technologies may be effective to a certain degree in providing biodegradable polymer filaments, it remains desirable to provide improved biodegradable polymer filaments with enhanced biodegradability to address the various requirements and improve the safety profile of such filaments. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] One aspect of the present invention is a process for manufacturing a biodegradable polymer filament product, the process comprising: a. isolating polyhydroxyalkanoate from a bacterial culture; b. optionally bleaching the polyhydroxyalkanoate; c . dispersing the polyhydroxyalkanoate in a surfactant solution to form a dispersion; d . drying the dispersion to obtain dried polyhydroxyalkanoate particles; e. mixing the polyhydroxyalkanoate with a plurality of components including a toughening agent, a plasticizer, a nucleating agent, an antioxidant and an adhesive; f. extruding the mixture as a filament; and g . winding the filament onto a spool. [0007] In certain embodiments, the polyhydroxyalkanoate is poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), poly(3-hydroxyvalerate), poly(4-hydroxybutyrate), poly-3-hydroxyhexanoate, poly-3- hydroxyoctanoate, poly-3-hydroxyoctanoatepoly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-co-valerate, poly(3- hydroxynonanoate-co-3-hydroxyheptanoate), poly(3-hydroxynonanoate-co-3- hydroxyheptanoate, poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate), poly(3- hydroxynonanoate-co-3-hydroxyheptanoate-co-3-hydroxynonenoate-co-3- hydroxyundecenoate, poly(3-hydroxynonanoate-co-3-hydroxyheptanoate-co-3- hydroxynonenoate-co-3-hydroxyundecenoate), poly(3-hydroxynonanoate-co-3- hydroxyheptanoate-co-3-hydroxynonenoate-co-3-hydroxyundecenoate), poly(3- hydroxbutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), or poly(3-hydroxbuyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate). [0008] In certain embodiments, the bacterial culture is of a member strain of any one of the genera Alcaligenes, Bacillus, Clostridium, Corynebacterium, Cupriavidus, Cyanobacterium, Erwinia, Legionella, Methanomonas, Methylobacterium, Methylosinus, Methylocystis, Methylomonas, Methylovibrio, Nitrobacter, Protomonas, Pseudomonas, Ralstonia, Rhizobium, Rhodobacter, Rhodospirillum, Spirillum, Spirulina, Staphylococcus, Vibrio and Wautersia. [0009] In certain embodiments, the bacterial culture is of a methanotrophic bacterium grown using methanol as a carbon source. [0010] In certain embodiments, the bacterial culture is of an engineered or non- engineered bacterium. [001 1] In certain embodiments, the bacterial culture is of a member of the genus Methylobacterium. [0012] In certain embodiments, the bacterial culture is of Methylobacterium extorquens. [0013] In certain embodiments, the bleaching of the polyhydroxyalkanoate is not optional and is performed using hydrogen peroxide. [0014] In certain embodiments, the drying step is performed by spray-drying. [0015] In certain embodiments, the dried polyhydroxyalkanoate particles have an average diameter from about 150 to about 250 micrometers. [0016] In certain embodiments, the dried polyhydroxyalkanoate particles are subjected to a cross-linking process before step d). [0017] In certain embodiments, the nucleating agent is talc, mica, boron nitride, crystalline nanocellulose, crystalline microcellulose, sodium benzoate, calcium carbonate, silica, an ionomer, a clay, diacetal, titanium dioxide, dibenzylidene sorbitol, benzophenone, diacetal benzoate, lithium benzoate, sodium benzoate, potassium benzoate, thymine or a sodium organophosphate. [0018] In certain embodiments, the plurality of components further comprises a filler. [0019] In certain embodiments, the filler conducts electricity. [0020] In certain embodiments, the filler is a carbon nanotube, a carbon fiber, a steel fiber, or carbon black. [0021] In certain embodiments, the filler is calcium carbonate, lignin, cellulose or rice husk. [0022] In certain embodiments, the plasticizer is glycerol, tributyl-O-acetylcitrate, glyceryl triacetate, bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate, acetyltri-n-butyl citrate polyethylene glycol, sorbitol, mannitol or