Lipase-Catalyzed Synthesis of Renewable Plant Oil-Based Polyamides

• Published in: Polymers
• Main Authors: Maja Finnveden, Peter Hendil-Forssell, Mauro Claudino, Mats Johansson, Mats Martinelle
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019
• Subjects: candida antarctica lipase b; bio-based polyamides; enzymatic polymerization; Organic chemistry; QD241-441; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11111730; https://doaj.org/article/db72dfd21f3849d395595a6adf9de24e

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 × 10 3 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.