Lipase-catalyzed polyester synthesis

The effects of residual enzyme activity, stepwise addition of lipase at different reaction times, and enzyme quantity in direct polyesterification of sebacic acid and 1,4-butanediol catalyzed by a lipase from Rhizomucor miehei were investigated. Although the lipase activity dropped sharply in the beginning period of the reaction, the molar mass of the polyester increased rapidly, up to 39,000 g mol -1 in 72 h. The residual lipase activity (hydrolytic) was only 14 %. Stepwise addition of lipase did not improve polyester synthesis. Highest mass average molar mass of 56,000 g mol -1 was obtained with 0.125 g of lipase (28.5%, w/w) in 5 days.