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Updated: Jan 5, 2026

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer
Published on: November 30, 2020
Lipase-Catalyzed Synthesis of Renewable Plant Oil-Based Polyamides
Maja Finnveden1, Peter Hendil-Forssell2, Mauro Claudino3
1Department of Industrial Biotechnology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden. majafi@kth.se.
Abstract:
Enzyme catalyzed synthesis of renewable polyamides was investigated using Candida antarctica lipase B. A fatty acid-derived AB-type functional monomer, having one amine and one methyl ester functionality, was homopolymerized at 80 and 140 °C. Additionally, the organobase 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD) was used as a catalyst. The results from the two catalysts were comparable. However, the amount of lipase added was 1.2 × 103 times lower, showing that the lipase was a more efficient catalyst for this system as compared to TBD. Moreover, the AB-type monomer was copolymerized with 1,12-diaminododecane to synthesize oligoamides of two different lengths.
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