Sustainable Polymers Derived from Carbohydrates by Derek Saxon
Dublin Core
Title
Sustainable Polymers Derived from Carbohydrates by Derek Saxon
Subject
Chemistry
Description
Plastic waste is generated across the globe on an alarming scale, with only a small
fraction recovered for recycling. As a result, sustainable polymers derived from renewable
resources have recently been gaining attention. Carbohydrates offer an inexpensive, renewable
resource for the development of polymeric materials. The current study details the synthesis of
renewable aliphatic polyesters from two cyclic esters derived from glucose, gluconolactone (GL)
and acetyl-gluconolactone (AGL). Poly(gluconolactone) [PGL] and poly(acetyl-gluconolactone)
[PAGL] were prepared by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) at low temperatures and initiated
by an aluminum alkoxide with 1.0 mol% loading. Characterization was carried out via 1H NMR,
13C NMR, FT-IR, GC/EI-MS and LC/ESI-TOF MS. Analysis revealed the synthesis of highly
functional aliphatic polyesters with attractive properties. Density functional calculations were
performed with Gaussian 09 using the M06L functional and the 6-31G(d) basis set, suggesting a
metal-mediated coordination-insertion mechanism. These polymers are excellent candidates for
the manufacture of sustainable polymers derived from a fully renewable carbohydrate feedstock.
fraction recovered for recycling. As a result, sustainable polymers derived from renewable
resources have recently been gaining attention. Carbohydrates offer an inexpensive, renewable
resource for the development of polymeric materials. The current study details the synthesis of
renewable aliphatic polyesters from two cyclic esters derived from glucose, gluconolactone (GL)
and acetyl-gluconolactone (AGL). Poly(gluconolactone) [PGL] and poly(acetyl-gluconolactone)
[PAGL] were prepared by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) at low temperatures and initiated
by an aluminum alkoxide with 1.0 mol% loading. Characterization was carried out via 1H NMR,
13C NMR, FT-IR, GC/EI-MS and LC/ESI-TOF MS. Analysis revealed the synthesis of highly
functional aliphatic polyesters with attractive properties. Density functional calculations were
performed with Gaussian 09 using the M06L functional and the 6-31G(d) basis set, suggesting a
metal-mediated coordination-insertion mechanism. These polymers are excellent candidates for
the manufacture of sustainable polymers derived from a fully renewable carbohydrate feedstock.
Creator
Saxon, Derek
Source
Senior Showcase Oral presentation
Publisher
Ripon College
Date
April 23, 2015
Rights
The author reserves all rights.
Format
pdf
Identifier
Major: Chemistry
Iron Mountain, Michigan
Files
Collection
Citation
Saxon, Derek, “Sustainable Polymers Derived from Carbohydrates by Derek Saxon,” Senior Showcase Digital Collection, accessed April 25, 2024, https://rcseniorshowcase.omeka.net/items/show/10.