Synthesis, Characterization and Biodegradation Study of Low Molecular Weight Polyesters

Abstract

A series of low molecular weight aliphatic biodegradable polyesters were synthesized from 1,3-propanediol and dibasic acids by thermal polycondensation, in the bulk without catalyst in N2 atmosphere at 150°C. The synthesized aliphatic polyesters were characterized by 1H-NMR, FT-IR, solubility, solution viscosity, gel permeation chromatography, and diffential scanning calorimetry. The biodegradability of the synthesized polyester films was tested by enzymatic degradation in phosphate buffer (pH = 7.2) in presence of Rhizopus delemar lipase incubated at 37°C, and soil burial degradation at 30°C. SEM was used to study the surface morphology after incubation of the films. The result of biodegradation shows that the films become brittle on incubation and their surfaces change upon degradation. The biodegradability of the polyesters depends on the crystallinity of the polymers. The degradation was more pronounced in PPSu compared to PPAd.