Beta-propiolactone based copolymers containing biogenic carbon, methods for their production and uses thereof
Provided herein are methods and systems for producing biodegradable beta-propoiolacone-based polyester polymers from renewable EO and CO on an industrial scale.
1. A copolymer comprising beta-propiolactone monomers and at least one beta-lactone co-monomer wherein the copolymer has a biocontent of at least 50 percent.
2. The copolymer of claim 1 wherein the copolymer has a biocontent of at least 50% and optionally at least 75 percent.
3. The copolymer of claim 1 wherein the copolymer is a linear polymer including an anionic nucleophile with the formula R x O(C═O)O − and cationic chain ends wherein R x is, independently, selected from hydrogen, optionally substituted aliphatic, optionally substituted heteroaliphatic, optionally substituted aryl and optionally substituted heteroaryl.
4. The polymer of claim 3 wherein the anionic nucleophile is at least one compound with the formula CH 2 ═CHCO 2 —, or CH 3 CO 2 —.
5. The polymer of claim 3 wherein the cation is selected from the group consisting of Li + , Na + , K + , Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Al 3+ and Na + .
6. The copolymer of claim 3 wherein the cation is an organic cation.
7. The copolymer of claim 6 wherein the organic cation is selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium, imidazolium, bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium and tetraalkyl ammonium.
8. The copolymer of claim 1 wherein the comonomer is derived from a beta lactone.
9. The copolymer of claim 1 wherein the copolymer it is forms at least part of a sanitary product.
10. The copolymer of claim 1 wherein the copolymer is formed into at least part of a structural product.
11. The copolymer of claim 1 wherein the copolymer is a linear polymer.
12. The copolymer of claim 1 wherein the betalactone is selected from the group consisting of beta-butyrolactone, beta-valerolactone, beta-heptanolactone, beta-tridecanolactone, cis-3,4-dimethyloxetan-2-one, 4-(but-3-en-1-yl)oxetan-2-one, 4-(butoxymethyl)-2-oxetanone,
4-[[[(1,1-dimethylethyl)dimethylsilyl]oxy]methyl]-2-oxetanone,
4-[(2-propen-1-yloxy)methyl]-2-oxetanone, 4-[(benzoyloxy)methyl]-2-Oxetanone.
13. The copolymer of claim 1 wherein the copolymer has a biodegradability equal to the monomer and co-monomer.
14. The copolymer of claim 13 wherein the copolymer has a biodegradability of at least 50% and optionally at least 80%.