Polymerization of phenols catalyzed by peroxidase in nonaqueous media

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987 · Biotechnol. Bioeng.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.260300106· OSTI ID:5663911

Dordick, J S; Marletta, M A; Klibanov, A M

Polymers produced by horseradish-peroxidase-catalyzed coupling of phenols have been explored as potential substitutes for phenol-formaldehyde resins. To overcome low substrate solubilities and product molecular weights in water, enzymatic polymerizations in aqueous-organic mixtures have been examined. Peroxidase vigorously polymerizes a number of phenols in mixtures of water with water-miscible solvents such as dioxane, acetone, dimethylformamide, and methyl formate with the solvent content up to 95%. As a result, various phenolic polymers with average molecular weights from 400 to 2.6 x 10/sup 4/ D were obtained depending on the reaction medium composition and the nature of the phenol. Peroxidase-catalyzed copolymerization of different phenols in 85% dioxane was demonstrated. Poly(p-phenylphenol) and poly(p-cresol) were enzymatically prepared on a gram scale. They had much higher melting points, and in addition, poly(p-phenylphenol) was found to have a much higher electrical conductivity than phenol-formaldehyde resins.

• Research Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
• OSTI ID: 5663911
• Journal Information: Biotechnol. Bioeng.; (United States), Vol. 30:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
PEROXIDASES
ENZYME ACTIVITY
PHENOLS
ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS
MOLECULAR WEIGHT
POLYMERIZATION
AROMATICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ENZYMES
HYDROLYSIS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LYSIS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
SOLVOLYSIS
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology