Open AccessSynthesis and characterization of polymers produced by horseradish peroxidase in dioxane
Author(s) -
Akkara Joseph A.,
Senecal Kris J.,
Kaplan David L.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of polymer science part a: polymer chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.768
H-Index - 152
eISSN - 1099-0518
pISSN - 0887-624X
DOI - 10.1002/pola.1991.080291105
Subject(s) - chemistry , polymer , solubility , differential scanning calorimetry , polymerization , solvent , molar mass distribution , polymer chemistry , horseradish peroxidase , monomer , melting point , organic chemistry , physics , thermodynamics , enzyme
Polymers were synthesized from substituted phenolic and aromatic amine compounds with hydrogen peroxide as the source of an oxidizing agent and horseradish peroxidase enzyme as the catalyst. The polymerization reaction was carried out in a monophasic organic solvent with small amounts of water at room temperature. Conditions for the synthesis of polymers with respect to reaction time and yield were studied with a number of monomers at different concentrations and in solvents with different buffers with pH range of 5.0–7.5. Physical and chemical properties of these homo‐and copolymers were determined with respect to melting point, solubility, elemental analysis, molecular weight distribution, infrared absorption (including FTIR), solid‐state 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance, thermal gravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. The enzyme catalyzed reactions produced polymers of molecular weight greater than 400,000 which were further fractionated by differential solubility in solvent mixtures and the molecular weight distribution of the polymer fractions were determined. In general, the polymers synthesized have low solubilities, high melting points, and some degree of branching.