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Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer
Published on: November 30, 2020
Biosynthesis and biodegradability of copolythioesters from 3,3'-thiodipropionic acid and plant oils by Cupriviadus
Yasutaka Kamei1, Atsushi Nagai, Haruo Nishida
1Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Yamagata University, 4-3-16 Jonan, Yonezawa, Yamagata, Japan.
Abstract:
To prepare sulfur-containing natural polymers effectively, several plant oils and 3,3'-thiodipropionic acid (TDP) have been used as carbon sources for the biosynthesis of copolymer poly[(3-hydroxybutyrate)-co-(3-mercaptopropionate)] [poly(3HB-co-3MP)] by a wild-type bacterium Cupriviadus necator H16. By using the plant oils, copolymer accumulation and incorporation of 3MP units are greater than those of cases using sugars. The 3MP fraction is controllable over a range of 1-39 mol-% by adjusting the cultivation conditions. Microbial degradability of the copolymers has been examined in an activated sludge supernatant. The biodegradation proceeded by two mechanisms: surface erosion and auto-catalytic hydrolysis, depending on the 3MP unit fraction, and show preferential degradation of 3HB unit sequences.
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