Lipase-catalyzed transformation of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) into cyclic dicaprolactone.
The enzymatic degradation and polymerization using an enzyme were carried out with respect to the establishment of a sustainable chemical recycling system for poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) which is a typical biodegradable synthetic plastic. The enzymatic transformation of PCL having an Mn of 110,000 using Candida antarctica lipase (lipase CA) in water-containing toluene at 40 degrees C afforded the corresponding cyclic dicaprolactone (DCL, 1,8-dioxacyclotetradecane-2,9-dione) in a yield of up to 97%. Thus the obtained DCL readily polymerized again using both the fresh and recovered lipase CAs.
Ebata
H
H
Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama 223-8522, Japan.
Toshima
K
K
Matsumura
S
S
D002175:Candida / Q000201:enzymology; D002384:Catalysis; D003500:Cyclization; D007783:Lactones / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D008049:Lipase / Q000737:chemistry*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*
C443713:1,8-dioxacyclotetradecane-2,9-dione; D007783:Lactones; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone; D008049:Lipase