Enzymatically catalyzed furan-based copolyesters containing dilinoleic diol as a building block

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Green Chemistry
• Biocatalysis

Background:

• Traditional aromatic-aliphatic polyesters face challenges in resource efficiency and environmental impact.
• Developing sustainable alternatives is crucial for optimizing resource utilization in the chemical industry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize a library of furan-based block copolymers as environmentally friendly alternatives.
• To explore the potential of these novel copolymers for applications in medical packaging.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis via temperature-varied two-step polycondensation using Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B).
• Starting materials included dimethyl 2,5-furandicarboxylate (DMFDCA), α,ω-aliphatic linear diols (α,ω-ALD), and bio-based dilinoleic diol (DLD).
• Characterization using NMR, FTIR, SEC, XRD, DHM, DSC, OTR, and DMTA.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of furan-based block copolymers was confirmed through various spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques.
• Analysis revealed distinct crystallization behavior and thermal properties.
• Oxygen transmission rates and dynamic mechanical properties suggest suitability for medical packaging.

Conclusions:

• The study presents a greener method for producing furan-based block copolymers.
• These novel furan-based copolyesters demonstrate potential for sustainable medical packaging solutions.