Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.85, No.4, 774-784, 2002
Biodegradability study of copolyesteramides based on diacid chlorides, diamines, and diols
Copolyesteramides were synthesized by polycondensation of diacid chlorides, diamines, and diols of varying methylene group chain length. The composition of the synthesized polymer was determined with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. The biodegradation of the polymers was evaluated both with enzymatic hydrolysis and activated sludge test. The polymers were hydrolyzed with lipases from Rhizopus arrhizus, Rhizopus delemar, Candida cylindracea, and an esterase from hog liver, whereas trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin did not have any apparent effect upon them. Enzymatic hydrolysis was found to be greatly affected by the polymer composition and structure. The degradation results obtained from the activated sludge test were in satisfactory agreement with those from enzymatic hydrolysis. The water-soluble parts of hydrolyzed products were more susceptible to degradation of their ester bonds rather than their amide bonds.