Enzymatic synthesis of poly-l-lactide-co-glycolide in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate

This article reports the lipase-catalyzed ring-opening copolymerization of l-lactide (LLA) and glycolide using the commercially available ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate as solvent media. Candida antarctica lipase B, immobilized in an acrylic support was used as biocatalyst. The reaction temperature had a direct influence on yields and molecular weights of the copolymers as well as LLA incorporation. The materials presented semi-crystalline structures assessed by DSC and powder XR diffraction analyses.