Study on the enzymatic degradation of poly of butylene succinate-co-butylenle terephthalate

The enzymatic degradation of poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene terephthalate) (PBST) copolyesters was studied using the lipase from Pseudomonas (Lipase PS). The biodegradation behavior is strongly depended on the overall impacts of several important factors, such as the BT comonomer structure and molar content, thermal characteristics, morphology, and so on. Furthermore, the biodegraded residual film samples were analyzed by means of get permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). On the experimental evidences, the enzymatic chain hydrolysis preferentially occurring in the amorphous region is suggested for the PBST film samples.