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

Authors

R. M. Tadros, Pine Bluff Arsenal
Hossein Noureddini, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Delmar C. Timm, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2-20-2001

Citation

Journal of Applied Polymer Science (2001) 80(4): 514-520

doi: 10.1002/1097-4628(20010425)80:43.0.CO;2-N

Comments

Copyright © 2001, Wiley. Used by permission

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/dt_max = 1.12 x 10^-8 mol/s and the rate constant K_m 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 distribution dynamics of the polymeric molecules that formed the resin were explicitly described using a deterministic approach.