Study on the Synthesis and Biodegradation of Aliphatic Polyester

An aliphatic polyester, poly(hexalene adipate) (PHA) and an aliphatic copolyester, poly (hexalene adipate succinate) (PHAS) were synthesized by direct condensation of corresponding binary acid and binary alcohol in the presence of a catalyst, p-toluene sulfonic acid. The biodegradation of these polyesters were studied in the laboratory by enzyme attack and outdoor soil burial. The results show that these polyesters have good biodegradability and the copolyester PHAS, even displayed a better biodegradability than the polyester PHA. In the presence of Penicillium chrysogenum the weight loss reached 18.3% for the PHAS (film thickness 1.0 mm) and 9.1% for the PHA (film thickness 1.0 mm) after 28 days. Outdoor soil burial tests indicate that these polyesters also have good biodegradability in natural conditions. The weight loss reached 14.2% for PHAS (film thickness 0.1 mm) and 6.7% for PHA (film thickness 0.1mm) after burying in soil for 36 days.