Patent EP0052459A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0052459A1
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Beta-hydroxybutyrate polymers
Assignee: Monsanto Co
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Filing: 1981-10-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2001-10-30
Abstract
Abstract High molecular weight copolymers containing β-hydroxybutyric acid residue, i.e. units of the formula and up to 50 mole % of residues of other hydroxy acids, viz units of the formula where n is 0 or 1 and, if n = 1 and R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 = H, R 2 is not methyl. The copolymers are made microbiologically: for part of the cultivation the micro-organism is under conditions of limitation of a nutrient, e.g. nitrogen source, required for growth but not polyester accumulation. For at least part of this period of growth limitation the substrate is an acid or a salt thereof that tives the comonomer units. Propionic acid, which gives polymers where n = 1, R 2 =R 3 =R 4 =H and R 1 = C 2 H 2 , is the preferred acid.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Arthur Holmes
- 👤 Leonard Frederick Wright
- 👤 Stephen Hugh Collins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:01
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08G; C08G63/00; C08G63/02; C08G63/06; C12; C12P; C12P7/00; C12P7/62; C12P7/625
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
Copolymers having a weight average molecular weight above 10,000 and containing 99.9 to 50 mole % of repeat units and 0.1 to 50 mole % of repeat units where n is 0 or 1 and R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R are each selected from hydrocarbon radicals; halo- and hydroxy- substituted hydrocarbon radicals; hydroxy radicals; halogen atoms; and hydrogen atoms, provided that, where n is 1, if R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 are each hydrogen atoms, R 1 is not methyl.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
Copolymers having a weight average molecular weight above 10,000 and containing 99.9 to 50 mole % of repeat units and 0.1 to 50 mole % of repeat units where n is 0 or 1 and R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R are each selected from hydrocarbon radicals; halo- and hydroxy- substituted hydrocarbon radicals; hydroxy radicals; halogen atoms; and hydrogen atoms, provided that, where n is 1, if R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 are each hydrogen atoms, R 1 is not methyl.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
9 words
Copolymers according to claim 1 wherein n is 1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
Copolymers according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein R l , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 each contain less than 4 carbon atoms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
Copolymers according to any one. of claims 1 to 3 wherein at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 is hydrogen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
Copolymers according to claim 4 wherein R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are each hydrogen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
Copolymers accordlng to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein R 1 is ethyl.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
Copolymers according to any one of claims 1 to 6 having a weight average molecular weight above 200,000.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
Copolymers according to any one of claims 1 to 7 containing 1 to 40 mole % of repeat units II.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
115 words
A process for the production of a thermoplastic polyester wherein a micro-organism that is capable of accumulating a polyester is cultivated in an aqueous medium on a water soluble assimilable carbon containing substrate with at least part of the cultivation being conducted under conditions of limitation of one or more of the essential requirements for microbial growth, but not polyester accumulation, characterised in that, during at least part of the period when the cultivation is so limited, the substrate comprises an organic acid, or salt thereof, that is metabolisable by said micro-organism under said limitation conditions, to a polyester other than one composes solely of - O.CH(CH 3 ).CH 2 . CO - repeat units.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
115 words
A process for the production of a thermoplastic polyester wherein a micro-organism that is capable of accumulating a polyester is cultivated in an aqueous medium on a water soluble assimilable carbon containing substrate with at least part of the cultivation being conducted under conditions of limitation of one or more of the essential requirements for microbial growth, but not polyester accumulation, characterised in that, during at least part of the period when the cultivation is so limited, the substrate comprises an organic acid, or salt thereof, that is metabolisable by said micro-organism under said limitation conditions, to a polyester other than one composes solely of - O.CH(CH 3 ).CH 2 . CO - repeat units.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 9 wherein the acid is selected from propionic, isobutyric, and acrylic acid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
A process according to claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the acid is is the sole substrate for at least part of the period during which the cultivation of the micro-organism is conducted under conditions of limitation of one or more of the essential requirements for microbial growth but not polyester accumulation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 11 wherein the acid is the sole substrate throughout the cultivation of the micro-organism.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to any one of claims 9 to 11 wherein the micro-organism is grown using a carbohydrate as a substrate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
A process according to claim 13 wherein the carbohydrate is glucose.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
A process according to claim 13 or claim 14 wherein, for at least part of the period when the cultivation is under conditions of limitation of one or more of the essential requirements for microbial growth, but not polyester accumulation, the substrate is a mixture of the acid and the carbohydrate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process according to any one of claims 9 to 15 wherein the essential requirement for growth, but not polyester accumulation, that is limited, is the nitrogen source.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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