Microbial degradation of poly-(L-lactic acid) oligomers

Sari Karjomaa; Tapani Suortti; R. Lempiäinen; Johan-Fredrik Selin; Merja Itävaara

doi:10.1016/S0141-3910(97)00204-8

Microbial degradation of poly-(L-lactic acid) oligomers

Sari Karjomaa (Corresponding Author), Tapani Suortti, R. Lempiäinen, Johan-Fredrik Selin, Merja Itävaara

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

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Abstract

Biotic and abiotic degradation of poly-(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) oligomers of molecular weight (MW) 260–2880 g mol−1 has been studied in an aquatic aerobic headspace biodegradation test for six months. Water soluble/dispersable PLLA oligomers (MW 260–550 g mol−1) biodegraded at 25 °C and at 58 °C. Larger, crystalline and hydrophobic oligomers (MW 550–2880 g mol−1) biodegraded only at 58 °C. Weight-average molecular weights of PLLA-oligomers decreased both during biotic and abiotic degradation, although slightly more during biotic degradation. The surface and inner structures of biotically incubated PLLA oligomers were more porous than those of abiotically degraded oligomers. Thus abiotic hydrolysis of PLLA-structure to lactic acid appears to be an essential, but not the only explanation for its degradation.
PLLA polymer chain seems to be cleaved also enzymatically to lactic acid.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	333-336
Journal	Polymer Degradation and Stability
Volume	59
Issue number	1-3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0141-3910(97)00204-8
Publication status	Published - 1998
MoE publication type	A1 Journal article-refereed

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title = "Microbial degradation of poly-(L-lactic acid) oligomers",

abstract = "Biotic and abiotic degradation of poly-(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) oligomers of molecular weight (MW) 260–2880 g mol−1 has been studied in an aquatic aerobic headspace biodegradation test for six months. Water soluble/dispersable PLLA oligomers (MW 260–550 g mol−1) biodegraded at 25 °C and at 58 °C. Larger, crystalline and hydrophobic oligomers (MW 550–2880 g mol−1) biodegraded only at 58 °C. Weight-average molecular weights of PLLA-oligomers decreased both during biotic and abiotic degradation, although slightly more during biotic degradation. The surface and inner structures of biotically incubated PLLA oligomers were more porous than those of abiotically degraded oligomers. Thus abiotic hydrolysis of PLLA-structure to lactic acid appears to be an essential, but not the only explanation for its degradation. PLLA polymer chain seems to be cleaved also enzymatically to lactic acid.",

author = "Sari Karjomaa and Tapani Suortti and R. Lempi{\"a}inen and Johan-Fredrik Selin and Merja It{\"a}vaara",

year = "1998",

doi = "10.1016/S0141-3910(97)00204-8",

language = "English",

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journal = "Polymer Degradation and Stability",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Microbial degradation of poly-(L-lactic acid) oligomers

AU - Karjomaa, Sari

AU - Suortti, Tapani

AU - Lempiäinen, R.

AU - Selin, Johan-Fredrik

AU - Itävaara, Merja

PY - 1998

Y1 - 1998

N2 - Biotic and abiotic degradation of poly-(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) oligomers of molecular weight (MW) 260–2880 g mol−1 has been studied in an aquatic aerobic headspace biodegradation test for six months. Water soluble/dispersable PLLA oligomers (MW 260–550 g mol−1) biodegraded at 25 °C and at 58 °C. Larger, crystalline and hydrophobic oligomers (MW 550–2880 g mol−1) biodegraded only at 58 °C. Weight-average molecular weights of PLLA-oligomers decreased both during biotic and abiotic degradation, although slightly more during biotic degradation. The surface and inner structures of biotically incubated PLLA oligomers were more porous than those of abiotically degraded oligomers. Thus abiotic hydrolysis of PLLA-structure to lactic acid appears to be an essential, but not the only explanation for its degradation. PLLA polymer chain seems to be cleaved also enzymatically to lactic acid.

AB - Biotic and abiotic degradation of poly-(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) oligomers of molecular weight (MW) 260–2880 g mol−1 has been studied in an aquatic aerobic headspace biodegradation test for six months. Water soluble/dispersable PLLA oligomers (MW 260–550 g mol−1) biodegraded at 25 °C and at 58 °C. Larger, crystalline and hydrophobic oligomers (MW 550–2880 g mol−1) biodegraded only at 58 °C. Weight-average molecular weights of PLLA-oligomers decreased both during biotic and abiotic degradation, although slightly more during biotic degradation. The surface and inner structures of biotically incubated PLLA oligomers were more porous than those of abiotically degraded oligomers. Thus abiotic hydrolysis of PLLA-structure to lactic acid appears to be an essential, but not the only explanation for its degradation. PLLA polymer chain seems to be cleaved also enzymatically to lactic acid.

U2 - 10.1016/S0141-3910(97)00204-8

DO - 10.1016/S0141-3910(97)00204-8

M3 - Article

SN - 0141-3910

VL - 59

SP - 333

EP - 336

JO - Polymer Degradation and Stability

JF - Polymer Degradation and Stability

IS - 1-3

ER -

Microbial degradation of poly-(L-lactic acid) oligomers

Abstract

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