Open AccessAPPLICATIONS OF ENZYMES IN SYNTHESIS AND MODIFICATION OF POLYMERS
Author(s) -
Marcos de Campos Cavalcanti de Albuquerque,
Cláudia Maria Soares Ribeiro,
Carlos René Klotz Rabelo,
Bernardo Galvão Siqueira,
Ana Beatriz Abreu Santa Marinha,
Aline Machado de Castro
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
química nova
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.214
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1678-7064
pISSN - 0100-4042
DOI - 10.5935/0100-4042.20140113
Subject(s) - polymer , enzyme , surface modification , polymer science , materials science , combinatorial chemistry , chemistry , biochemistry , engineering , organic chemistry , chemical engineering
Enzymes are biological catalysts that offer great potential for use in the synthesis and modification of polymers, being more specific and greener than chemical catalysts. In this work, enzymes from the classes of hydrolases (lipase, cutinase and protease) and of oxidoreductases (horseradish peroxidase, manganese peroxidase and laccase) were identified as the main biocatalysts responsible for the synthesis of polymers. Biocatalysis can potentially be part of the life cycle of several polymers, including polyesters, polyurethanes, polycarbonates, polyamides, functionalized polysaccharides and polystyrene, allowing the synthesis of specialty macromolecules for fine applications and with higher added-value than commodity polymers