Polyethylene glycol degradation

Frings J, E Schramm, B Schink (1992) Enzymes involved in anaerobic polyethylene glycol degradation by Pelobacter venetianus and Bacteroides strain PGl. Appl Environ Microbiol 58 2164-2167. 

Schramm E, B Schink (1991) Ether-cleaving enzyme and diol dehydratase involved in anaerobic polyethylene glycol degradation by a new Acetobacterium sp. Biodegradation 2 71-79. 

Sugimoto M, M Tanaba, M Hataya, S Enokibara, JA Duine, F Kawai (2001) The first step in polyethylene glycol degradation by sphingomonads proceeds via a flavoprotein alcohol dehydrogenase containing flavin adenine dinucleotide. J Bacterial 183 6694-6698. 

The source of ignition of the polyethylene glycol was probably autoignition of the degraded material. The report recommends the use of nonabsorbent insulation for equipment containing heat-sensitive materials such as EO [19, 20]. 

A series of poly(ester-urethane) urea triblock copolymers have been synthesized and characterized by Wagner et al/ using PCL, polyethylene glycol, and 1,4 diisocyanatobutane with either lysine ethyl ester or putrescine, as the chain extender. These materials have shown the elongation at break from 325% to 560% and tensile strengths from 8 to 20 MPa. Degradation products of this kind of materials did not show any toxicity on cells. 

Schink B, M Stieb (1983) Fermentative degradation of polyethylene glycol by a strictly anaerobic, Gram-negative, nonsporeforming bacterium, Pelobacter venetianus sp. noy.Appl Environ Microbiol 45 1905-1913. 

The coupling of hirudin to polyethylene glycol (PEG) increases its half-life. PEG-hirudin is also less susceptible to proteolytic degradation (60). 

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