Oxidative degradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate). A new method of synthesis for the malic acid copolymers. Issue 16 (1st February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Michalak, Michał; Kwiecień, Michał; Kawalec, Michał; Kurcok, Piotr
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 6:Issue 16(2016)
• Page Start: 12809
• Page End: 12818
• Publication Date: 2016-02-01
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c5ra27041c
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : Herein was presented by the first time the green way to obtain poly(3-hydroxybutyrate- co -3-malic acid) from natural origin poly(3-hydroxybutyrate). Abstract : The thermal stability of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) in an oxidation environment was investigated in bulk at temperatures ranging from 100 °C to 140 °C. The process carried out in pure oxygen resulted in PHB backbone degradation with resulting non-volatile products typical for regular PHB thermal degradation while thermal treatment of PHB in an oxygen/ozone mixture resulted in increased rate of polymer backbone scission. The non-volatile degradation product contained macromolecules with several types of terminal groups but also a part of the 3-hydroxybutyrate repeating units was transformed into 3-malic acid units. NMR and multi-stage MS characterization revealed the random distribution of 3-malic acid units in the oligomeric products as well as the content of the malic acid units being dependent on oxidation conditions.