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Woodhouse AW, Kocaarslan A, Garden JA, Mutlu H. Unlocking the Potential of Polythioesters. Macromol Rapid Commun 2024:e2400260. [PMID: 38824417 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202400260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
As the demand for sustainable polymers increases, most research efforts have focused on polyesters, which can be bioderived and biodegradable. Yet analogous polythioesters, where one of the oxygen atoms has been replaced by a sulfur atom, remain a relatively untapped source of potential. The incorporation of sulfur allows the polymer to exhibit a wide range of favorable properties, such as thermal resistance, degradability, and high refractive index. Polythioester synthesis represents a frontier in research, holding the promise of paving the way for eco-friendly alternatives to conventional polyesters. Moreover, polythioester research can also open avenues to the development of sustainable and recyclable materials. In the last 25 years, many methods to synthesize polythioesters have been developed. However, to date no industrial synthesis of polythioesters has been developed due to challenges of costs, yields, and the toxicity of the by-products. This review will summarize the recent advances in polythioester synthesis, covering step-growth polymerization, ring-opening polymerization (ROP), and biosynthesis. Crucially, the benefits and challenges of the processes will be highlighted, paying particular attention to their sustainability, with the aim of encouraging further exploration and research into the fast-growing field of polythioesters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam W Woodhouse
- Institut de Science des Matériaux de Mulhouse, UMR 7361 CNRS/Université de Haute Alsace, 15 Rue Jean Starcky, Mulhouse, Cedex, 68057, France
- School of Chemistry, Joseph Black Building, David Brewster Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FJ, UK
| | - Azra Kocaarslan
- Institute of Chemical Technology and Polymer Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Engesserstrasee 15, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Jennifer A Garden
- School of Chemistry, Joseph Black Building, David Brewster Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FJ, UK
| | - Hatice Mutlu
- Institut de Science des Matériaux de Mulhouse, UMR 7361 CNRS/Université de Haute Alsace, 15 Rue Jean Starcky, Mulhouse, Cedex, 68057, France
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de Souza F, Gupta RK. Bacteria for Bioplastics: Progress, Applications, and Challenges. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:8666-8686. [PMID: 38434856 PMCID: PMC10905720 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c07372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Bioplastics are one of the answers that can point society toward a sustainable future. Under this premise, the synthesis of polymers with competitive properties using low-cost starting materials is a highly desired factor in the industry. Also, tackling environmental issues such as nonbiodegradable waste generation, high carbon footprint, and consumption of nonrenewable resources are some of the current concerns worldwide. The scientific community has been placing efforts into the biosynthesis of polymers using bacteria and other microbes. These microorganisms can be convenient reactors to consume food and agricultural wastes and convert them into biopolymers with inherently attractive properties such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, and appreciable mechanical and chemical properties. Such biopolymers can be applied to several fields such as packing, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, medical, biomedical, and agricultural. Thus, intending to elucidate the science of microbes to produce polymers, this review starts with a brief introduction to bioplastics by describing their importance and the methods for their production. The second section dives into the importance of bacteria regarding the biochemical routes for the synthesis of polymers along with their advantages and disadvantages. The third section covers some of the main parameters that influence biopolymers' production. Some of the main applications of biopolymers along with a comparison between the polymers obtained from microorganisms and the petrochemical-based ones are presented. Finally, some discussion about the future aspects and main challenges in this field is provided to elucidate the main issues that should be tackled for the wide application of microorganisms for the preparation of bioplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe
Martins de Souza
- National
Institute for Materials Advancement, Pittsburgh
State University, 1204 Research Road, Pittsburgh, Kansas 66762, United States
| | - Ram K. Gupta
- National
Institute for Materials Advancement, Pittsburgh
State University, 1204 Research Road, Pittsburgh, Kansas 66762, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, Pittsburgh State University, 1701 South Broadway Street, Pittsburgh, Kansas 66762, United States
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Mierzati M, Miyahara Y, Curial B, Nomura CT, Taguchi S, Abe H, Tsuge T. Tacticity Characterization of Biosynthesized Polyhydroxyalkanoates Containing ( S)- and ( R)-3-Hydroxy-2-Methylpropionate Units. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:444-454. [PMID: 38135668 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), aliphatic polyesters synthesized by microorganisms, have gained considerable attention as biodegradable plastics. Recently, α-carbon-methylated PHAs have been shown to exhibit several interesting properties that differ from those of conventional PHAs, such as their crystallization behavior and material properties. This study investigated α-carbon methylated (S)- and (R)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpropionate (3H2MP) as new repeating units. 3H2MP units were homopolymerized or copolymerized with (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) by manipulating the culture conditions of recombinant Escherichia coli LSBJ. Consequently, PHAs with 3H2MP units ranging from 5 to 100 mol % were synthesized by external addition of (R)- and (S)-enantiomers or the racemic form of 3H2MPNa. The (S)-3H2MP precursor supplemented into the culture medium was almost directly polymerized into PHA while maintaining its chirality. Therefore, a highly isotactic P(3H2MP) (R:S = 1:99) was synthesized, which displayed a melting temperature of 114-119 °C and a relatively high enthalpy of fusion (68 J/g). In contrast, in cultures supplemented with (R)-3H2MP, the precursor was racemized and polymerized into PHA, resulting in the synthesis of the amorphous polymer atactic P(3H2MP) (R:S = 40:60). However, racemization was not observed at a low concentration of the (R)-3H2MP precursor, thereby synthesizing P(3HB-co-8 mol % 3H2MP) with 100% (R)-3H2MP units. The thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the thermal degradation temperatures at 5% weight loss of P(3H2MP)s occurred at approximately 313 °C, independent of tacticity, which is substantially higher than that of P(3HB) (257 °C). This study demonstrates a new concept for controlling the physical properties of biosynthesized PHA by manipulating the polymers' tacticity using 3H2MP units.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maierwufu Mierzati
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8502, Japan
| | - Yuki Miyahara
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8502, Japan
| | - Blanche Curial
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8502, Japan
| | - Christopher T Nomura
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Dr, Moscow, Idaho 83844-3010, United States
| | - Seiichi Taguchi
- Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai-cho, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
| | - Hideki Abe
- Bioplastic Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Takeharu Tsuge
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8502, Japan
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Szabó Á, Szarka G, Trif L, Gyarmati B, Bereczki L, Iván B, Kovács E. Poly(dithiophosphate)s, a New Class of Phosphorus- and Sulfur-Containing Functional Polymers by a Catalyst-Free Facile Reaction between Diols and Phosphorus Pentasulfide. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415963. [PMID: 36555604 PMCID: PMC9787700 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Novel poly(dithiophosphate)s (PDTPs) were successfully synthesized under mild conditions without any additive in the presence of THF or toluene diluents at 60 °C by a direct, catalyst-free reaction between the abundant phosphorus pentasulfide (P4S10) and glycols such as ethylene glycol (EG), 1,6-hexanediol (HD) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). GPC, FTIR, 1H and 31P NMR analyses proved the formation of macromolecules with dithiophosphate coupling groups having P=S and P-SH pendant functionalities. Surprisingly, the ring-opening of THF by the P-SH group and its pendant incorporation as a branching point occur during polymerization. This process is absent with toluene, providing conditions to obtain linear chains. 31P NMR measurements indicate long-time partial hydrolysis and esterification, resulting in the formation of a thiophosphoric acid moiety and branching points. Copolymerization, i.e., using mixtures of EG or HD with PEG, results in polymers with broadly varying viscoelastic properties. TGA shows the lower thermal stability of PDTPs than that of PEG due to the relatively low thermal stability of the P-O-C moieties. The low Tgs of these polymers, from -4 to -50 °C, and a lack of PEG crystallites were found by DSC. This polymerization process and the resulting novel PDTPs enable various new routes for polymer synthesis and application possibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ákos Szabó
- Polymer Chemistry and Physics Research Group, Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Magyar tudósok krt. 2, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
- Correspondence: (Á.S.); (B.I.)
| | - Györgyi Szarka
- Polymer Chemistry and Physics Research Group, Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Magyar tudósok krt. 2, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - László Trif
- Functional Nanoparticles Research Group, Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Magyar tudósok krt. 2, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Benjámin Gyarmati
- Soft Matters Group, Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3, H-1111 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Laura Bereczki
- Plasma Chemistry Research Group, Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Magyar tudósok krt. 2, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
- Chemical Crystallography Research Laboratory, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Magyar tudósok krt. 2, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Béla Iván
- Polymer Chemistry and Physics Research Group, Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Magyar tudósok krt. 2, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
- Correspondence: (Á.S.); (B.I.)
| | - Ervin Kovács
- Polymer Chemistry and Physics Research Group, Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Magyar tudósok krt. 2, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
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Oxidation of methionine-derived 2-hydroxyalkanoate unit in biosynthesized polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymers. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 224:840-847. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.10.170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Koller M. Advances in Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) Production, Volume 3. Bioengineering (Basel) 2022; 9:bioengineering9070328. [PMID: 35877379 PMCID: PMC9312071 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9070328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Steadily increasing R&D activities in the field of microbial polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolyesters are committed to growing global threats from climate change, aggravating plastic pollution, and the shortage of fossil resources. These prevailing issues paved the way to launch the third Special Issue of Bioengineering dedicated to future-oriented biomaterials, characterized by their versatile plastic-like properties. Fifteen individual contributions to the Special Issue, written by renowned groups of researchers from all over the world, perfectly mirror the current research directions in the PHA sector: inexpensive feedstock like carbon-rich waste from agriculture, mitigation of CO2 for PHA biosynthesis by cyanobacteria or wild type and engineered “knallgas” bacteria, powerful extremophilic PHA production strains, novel tools for rapid in situ determination of PHA in photobioreactors, modelling of the dynamics of PHA production by mixed microbial cultures from inexpensive raw materials, enhanced bioreactor design for high-throughput PHA production by sophisticated cell retention systems, sustainable and efficient PHA recovery from biomass assisted by supercritical water, enhanced processing of PHA by application of novel antioxidant additives, and the development of compatible biopolymer blends. Moreover, elastomeric medium chain length PHA (mcl-PHA) are covered in-depth, inter alia, by introduction of a novel class of bioactive mcl-PHA-based networks, in addition to the first presentation of the new rubber-like polythioester poly(3-mercapto-2-methylpropionate). Finally, the present Special Issue is concluded by a critical essay on past, ongoing, and announced global endeavors for PHA commercialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Koller
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, NAWI Graz, Heinrichstrasse 28/IV, 8010 Graz, Austria; ; Tel.: +43-316-380-5463
- ARENA—Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Ressourcenschonende und Nachhaltige Technologien, Inffeldgasse 21b, 8010 Graz, Austria
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