Lipase-catalyzed transformation of poly(butylene adipate) and poly(butylene succinate) into repolymerizable cyclic oligomers.
The enzymatic degradation and repolymerization were carried out with the objectives of developing the chemical recycling of aliphatic polyester-type plastics, such as the poly(butylene adipate) (PBA), poly(butylene succinate), and poly(butylene adipate-co-succinate) copolymers which are typical biodegradable plastics. They were degraded by lipase in an organic solvent solution containing a small amount of water to produce cyclic oligomers mainly consisting of the cyclic diester. The produced cyclic oligomer was readily repolymerized by lipase to produce a polyester having an equal or higher molecular weight compared to the parent polymer. As an example, PBA having an Mw of 22,000 was almost quantitatively transformed by lipase CA (Novozym 435) in water-containing toluene at 50 degrees C into the corresponding cyclic oligomers mainly consisting of dimers. Thus, the obtained oligomers were readily polymerized by lipase CA to produce the PBA with an Mw of 52,000.
Okajima
Sachiko
S
Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama 223-8522, Japan.
Kondo
Reiko
R
Toshima
Kazunobu
K
Matsumura
Shuichi
S
D000272:Adipates / Q000378:metabolism*; D001711:Biotransformation; D002384:Catalysis; D002617:Chemical Industry / Q000379:methods; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D008049:Lipase / Q000378:metabolism*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000378:metabolism; D013386:Succinates / Q000378:metabolism*
D000272:Adipates; D011091:Polyesters; D013386:Succinates; C475864:poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate); D008049:Lipase