Synthesis and Biodegradation of Optically Active Polymers Based on (R)-3-Hydroxybutyric Acid

Plastics contribute to several industrial activities, but they also cause environmental pollution. Additionally, they rely on an ever-decreasing supply of natural, but non-renewable, resources. Such plastics should be replaced by materials that are biodegradable and made from renewable resources such as polymers. They are synthesized from plant-derived (R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid and l-lactic acid meet these requirements. Most of the synthesized poly((R)-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-l-lactate) with various monomer composition ratios were degraded by enzymes (PHB depolymerase or Proteinase K). Evaluation of biodegradability in activated sludge showed that copolymers with 80% or less of l-lactic acid units were degraded.