Abstract
Extensive studies on lipase-catalysed preparation of polylactic acid showed that porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL) showed better conversions of lactic acid monomer and higher molecular weight polylactates than those with lipozyme IM20. Molecular weight determined by end group analysis showed that the highest molecular weight achieved was 1423 at 80.2% conversion by PPL. Employment of dicarboxylic acids or their anhydrides at 0.1–1.0 molar equivalents as linker molecules along with polylactic acids prepared as mentioned above resulted in still higher molecular weight polymers. The highest yield of 80.1% with a molecular weight of 3300 was achieved with 0.1 molar equivalent of succinic anhydride. Blends of enzymatically prepared polylactic acids with polystyrene yielded very good films in terms of tensile strength, elongation and optical properties.
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Kiran, K.R., Divakar, S. Lipase-catalysed polymerization of lactic acid and its film forming properties. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 19, 859–865 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026004229239
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026004229239