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Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Fabricating Superhydrophobic Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Applications
Published on: August 28, 2015
Synthesis and properties of green sustainable carbonate-type nonionics containing polyoxyethylene chains
Taisuke Banno1, Hiroshi Sato, Takayuki Tsuda
1Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Hiyoshi, Kohoku-hu, Yokohama, Japan.
Abstract:
A series of polyoxyethylene surfactants containing carbonate linkages as biodegradable and chemically recyclable segments was designed and synthesized by a green process. A two-step carbonate exchange reaction was used: dimethyl or diphenyl carbonate was reacted with 1-alkanol, and the product was reacted with poly (ethylene) glycol in the presence of a lipase or chemical catalyst. The obtained carbonate-type nonionics exhibited good surface-active properties such as a low critical micelle concentration value and a surface tension lowering action. They were readily biodegraded by activated sludge, furthermore, could be chemical recycled using a lipase.
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