Characterization of Biodegradable Polymers by MALDI‐TOF MS

Detailed molecular characterization is required for the design, quality control or understanding of the fate of biodegradable polymers that are degraded by microorganisms present in the environment. This chapter describes the advantages of MALDI-TOF MS in characterizing the changes in molecular chemical structure during the biodegradation process of biodegradable polyesters and surfactants. Detailed molecular changes in biodegradable polymers are analysed based on mass spectra, and biodegradation mechanisms are discussed. In addition, a method for compositional characterization of biodegradable polyesters involving the combination of state-of-the-art high-resolution MALDI-TOF MS and accurate mass-based data analysis is also described.