Patent EP0069497A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0069497A2
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Copolyesters and process for their production
Assignee: Monsanto Co
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Filing: 1982-06-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2002-06-21
Abstract
Abstract High molecular weight copolymers containing 3-hydroxybutyrate residues, 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 an integer and, if n = 1 and R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 = H, R' is not methyl. The copolymers are made microbiologically: for part of the cultivation the micro-organism is under conditions such that polymer is accumulated, e.g. by limitation of a nutrient, e.g. nitrogen source, required for growth but not polyester accumulation. For at least part of this period of polymer accumulation the substrate is an acid or a derivative thereof that gives the comonomer units. Propionic acid, which gives polymers where n = 1, R 2 =R 3 =R 4 =H and R' = C 2 H s , 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
2026-10-27 17:18
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12P; C12P7/00; C12P7/62; C12P7/625; C08; C08G; C08G63/00; C08G63/02; C08G63/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 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 causing polyester to be accumulated by the micro-organism, characterised in that, at least during part of the period when polyester is being accumulated, the substrate comprises an organic acid, or derivative thereof, that is metabolisable by said micro-organism under said polyester accumulating conditions to a polyester other than one composed solely of -O.CH(CH 3 ).CH 2 .Co- repeat units, the amount of combined carbon in said acid, or derivative thereof, constituting at least 2% by weight of the total combined carbon in the substrate present throughout said period.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 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 causing polyester to be accumulated by the micro-organism, characterised in that, at least during part of the period when polyester is being accumulated, the substrate comprises an organic acid, or derivative thereof, that is metabolisable by said micro-organism under said polyester accumulating conditions to a polyester other than one composed solely of -O.CH(CH 3 ).CH 2 .Co- repeat units, the amount of combined carbon in said acid, or derivative thereof, constituting at least 2% by weight of the total combined carbon in the substrate present throughout said period.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the acid is selected from propionic, isobutyric, and acrylic acid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A process according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the acid is the sole substrate for at least part of the period during which the cultivation of the micro-organism is conducted under conditions causing polyester to be accumulated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 3 wherein the acid is the sole substrate throughout the cultivation of the micro-organism.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the micro-organism is grown using a carbohydrate as a substrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
A process according to claim 5 wherein the carbohydrate is glucose.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein, for at least part of the period when the cultivation is under conditions causing polyester accumulation, the substrate is a mixture of the acid and the carbohydrate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
A process according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the micro-organism is caused to accumulate polyester by cultivation under conditions of limitation of one or more of the essential re- q uirements for microbial growth but not polyester accumulation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 8 wherein the essential requirement for growth, but not polyester accurrulation, that is limited, is the nitrogen source, or the phosphorus source.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A process according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the acid, or derivative thereof, that is metabolisable to a polyester other than one composed solely of -O.CH(CH 3 ).CH 2 .CO- units, is the sole organic acid, or derivative thereof, present during the period when polyester is being accumulated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
107 words
Copolymers having a weight average molecular weight above 10,000 and containing repeat units and repeat units where n is 0 or an integer and R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 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 and R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 are each hydrogen atoms, R 1 is not methyl and not all of the groups R are ethyl; said repeat units II constituting 0.1 to 50 mol % of the total repeat units in said copolymer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
107 words
Copolymers having a weight average molecular weight above 10,000 and containing repeat units and repeat units where n is 0 or an integer and R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 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 and R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 are each hydrogen atoms, R 1 is not methyl and not all of the groups R are ethyl; said repeat units II constituting 0.1 to 50 mol % of the total repeat units in said copolymer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
Copolymers having a weight average molecular weight above 10,000 and containing at least 50 mol % of repeat units and being characterised by a triplet at 4.3 ppm as measured by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and peaks at 59.89 and 33.83 ppm (relative to a tetramethyl silane standard) measured by 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
Copolymers having a weight average molecular weight above 10,000 and containing at least 50 mol % of repeat units and being characterised by a triplet at 4.3 ppm as measured by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and peaks at 59.89 and 33.83 ppm (relative to a tetramethyl silane standard) measured by 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
Copolymers having a weight average molecular weight above 10,000 and containing
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
Copolymers having a weight average molecular weight above 10,000 and containing
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
(a) -O.CH(CH 3 ).CH 2 .CO- repeat units and (b) -O.CH 2 .CH 2 .CO- repeat units alone or in conjunction with -O.CH(C 2 H 5 ).CH 2 .CO- repeat units, said units (b) constituting 0.1 to 50 mol % of the total repeat units in said copolymer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
(a) -O.CH(CH 3 ).CH 2 .CO- repeat units and (b) -O.CH 2 .CH 2 .CO- repeat units alone or in conjunction with -O.CH(C 2 H 5 ).CH 2 .CO- repeat units, said units (b) constituting 0.1 to 50 mol % of the total repeat units in said copolymer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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