Polybutylene succinate-co-adipate

Showa Highpolymer (Japan) developed a wide range of polybutylene succinate (PBS) by polycondensation of 1,4-butanediol and succinic acid. Polybutylene succinate-co-adipate (PBSA), shown in Figure 9.4, is obtained by the addition of adipic acid. These copolymers are commercialized under the brand name Bionolle (Showa Denko K.K.). Industrial production of these polyesters from bio-based succinic acid was launched in 2012 by Showa Denko. Mitsubishi Chemical (Japan) produces and also commercializes partially bio-based PBS. 

Recently, the production of a biodegradable plastic-degrading enzyme from cheese whey by the phyllosphere yeast Pseudozyma antartica GB-4(1)W was studied [25]. It was reported that this yeast produces a cutinase-like enzyme, PaE, which has the ability to degrade biodegradable plastics. This enzyme was reported to have the ability to degrade several bioplastics such as PBS, polybutylene succinate-co-adipate, poly(e-caprolactone) and polylactic acid. Fed-batch cultivation of this yeast in xylose resulted in the production of PaE with high productivity. 

Lindstrom and co-workers [137] carried out a quantitative determination of low molecular weight compounds migrating from polybutylene adipate and polyethylene succinate during ageing by hydrolytic degradation in water and phosphate buffer. This was achieved by solid-phase extraction in combination with GC/mass spectrometry. Monomers detected include adipic acid, 1,4-butanediol, for the polyethylene adipate and succinic acid and 1,4-butanediol from polybutylene succinate. 

Property Polycaprolactone (PCL) Polyesteramide (PEA) Polybutylene succinate/adipate (PBSA) Polybutylene adipate-co- terphthalate (PBAT)... 

Polybutylene succinate (PBS) has a melting temperature of 114°C, and crystallises at about 75°C. Blown films have mechanical properties similar to LDPE films [51]. Incorporation of adipic acid in poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene-adipate) (PBSA) increases the degradation rate by lowering the crystallinity. PBS and PBSA are marketed by Showa Denko under the trade name Bionolle [52]. 

Polybutylene succinate Polybutylene succinate adipate Polybutylene succinate Polybutylene terephthalate Polybutylene adipate-co-terephtalate... 

Synthetic Biodegradable materials ( ) -1- BAK 1095 polyester amide (Bayer, G) -2-ECOFLEX 1,4 butandiol adipinic-dicarbonic and terephthalate copolyester (BASE, G) -3- EASTAR 14766 poly(tetramethylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (Eastman, USA) -4- Bionolle 3000 polybutylene succinate/adipate (Showa, Japan). 

Another class of crystalline polyesters with commercial potential is biodegradable polyesters. Pollet et al. [47] evaluated three different biodegradable polyesters (polybutylene succinate (BIO Bionolle manufactured by Showa High Polymer Co.), and two polybutylene-adipate-co-butylene-terephthalates (ECO Ecoflex F manufactured by BASF and EAS EastasrBio Ultra manufactured by Novamont)). The organo-montmorillonite utilized in the evaluations was Cloisite SOB. The Cloisite 30B was dried at 40°C under reduced pressure for 4 h. Cloisite 30B must be properly dried for this application. The composites with the best mechanical performance were prepared with a two-roll mill (Agila) for 10 min with the temperature set at 150°C for EAS and ECO and 160°C for BIO. The montmorillonite content of the composites was 3 wt.%. Preparing a master batch of polymer with a 36 wt.% Cloisite SOB initially with subsequent formulation was not as effective. 

Using special reactions, it has also been shown that, a degradable polymer can be produced as well i.e., by transesterification, new biodegradable polyesters can be synthesised from polybutylene adipate-co-succinate and polyethylene terephthalate [21]). 

Lindstrom and co-workers [4] carried out quantitative determinations of aqueous hydrolytic degradation prodncts prodnced in the early stages of degradation in linear and branched polybutylene adipate (PBA) and polybntylene succinate (PBS). 

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