An industrial‐scale synthesis of biodegradable soluble in organic solvents butyric–acetic chitin copolyesters

Abstract

AbstractThe article presents the results of study related to upscaling chitin esterification reaction to the industrial scale. The obtained results allowed for creation of a product which can later be used in manufacturing biologically active dressing materials. The implementation of the laboratory scale showed that there is a possibility of upscaling the procedure to make it suitable for the needs of industry. Problems and risks associated with the transition to an industrial scale, such as process temperature control, time of the reaction and the method of isolation of product (emptying the industrial reactor from the reaction mixture), have been presented and discussed. The results of the tests showed the interdependence between the stages of production process, both in laboratory and in industrial scale. The realization of the presented project enabled solving the problems arising both from the preparation to the synthesis, carrying out the process itself, and obtaining the final product. An important factor in this case was to obtain the same physicochemical properties of the final product on both laboratory and industrial scale. The tests of biodegradation of butyric–acetic chitin copolyester in fresh human plasma and blood serum confirmed that two enzymatic degradation processes occur due to the presence of the enzymes in these body fluids. At the same time, enzymatic hydrolysis of ester bonds and enzymatic hydrolysis of the glycoside bonds of the main polysaccharide chain take place.