Michaelis–Menten Kinetics for Enzymatic Depolymerization of a Linear Polyester Synthesized from Z-Protected Glutamic Acid

Authors

R M. Tadros, Pine Bluff Arsenal, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71602
Hossein Noureddini, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Delmar C. Timm, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2-20-2001

Comments

"This is a preprint of an article published in the Journal of Applied Polymer Science Volume 80, Issue 4 , Pages 514 - 520, complete citation information for the final version of the Contribution as published in the print edition of the Journal of Applied Polymer Science Volume 80, Issue 4 , Pages 514 - 520,]", link to the Journal's located at the following Wiley URL: http://www.interscience.Wiley.com/. Published Online: 20 Feb 2001, Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. This article can be viewed at the publishers site: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/77004008/ABSTRACT Digital Object Identifier (DOI) 10.1002/1097-4628(20010425)80:43.0.CO;2-N

Abstract

A biodegradable polyester resin was polymerized from N-benzyloxycarbonyl- L -glutamic acid and ethylene glycol. Rhizopus delemar lipase was used as a biocatalyst for the rupture of ester bonds during the hydrolysis studies. Depoly-merization was observed to followa Michaelis–Menten mechanism, with the maximumrate of monomer formation dP/dtmax = 1.12 x 10-8 mol/s and the rate constant Km x 2.03 x 10-4 mol. Subject to initial conditions described by the most probable distribution and Michaelis–Menten–type depolymerization rate expressions, population density distribu-tion dynamics of the polymeric molecules that formed the resin were explicitly described using a deterministic ap-proach.