Enzymatic Poly(octamethylene suberate) Synthesis by a Two-Step Polymerization Method Based on the New Greener Polymer-5B Technology

Ana C.D. Pfluck, Dragana P.C. de Barros, Abel Oliva, Luis P. Fonseca

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Here, we report a new two-step enzymatic polymerization strategy for the synthesis of poly(octamethylene suberate) (POS) using an immobilized Pseudozyma antarctica lipase B (IMM-PBLI). The strategy overcomes the lack of enzymatic POS synthesis in solvent-free systems and increases the final polymer molecular weight. In the first step, the direct polycondensation of suberic acid and 1,8-octanediol was catalyzed by IMM-PBLI at 45C, leading to the production of prepolymers with molecular weights (MWs) of 2800, 3400, and 4900 g mol−1 after 8 h in miniemulsion, water, and an organic solvent (cyclohexane: tetrahydrofuran 5:1 v/v), respectively. In the second polymerization step, wet prepolymers were incubated at 60 or 80C, at atmospheric pressure, in the presence of IMM-PBLI, and without stirring. The final POS polymers showed a significant increase in MW to 5000, 5800, and 19,800 g mol−1 (previously synthesized in miniemulsion, water, or organic solvent, respectively). FTIR analysis of the final polymers confirmed the successful POS synthesis and a high degree of monomer conversion. This innovative two-step polymerization strategy opens up a new opportunity for implementing greener and more environmentally friendly processes for synthesizing biodegradable polyesters.

Original languageEnglish
Article number221
JournalProcesses
Volume10
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2022

Keywords

  • Aqueous media
  • Bulk polymerization
  • Enzymatic polycondensation
  • Organic solvent media
  • Two-step polymerization

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