Characterization of microbial polythioesters: physical properties of novel copolymers synthesized by Ralstonia eutropha.

Various samples of polythioesters with different contents of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3MP) or 3-mercaptobutyric acid (3MB) as one comonomer and with 3-hydroxybutyric acid (3HB) as the second constituent were produced by cultivating cells of Ralstonia eutropha strain H16 in mineral salts medium containing 3MP or 3MB plus gluconate as carbon sources. Fermentations were done also at the 30-L scale. The various samples were cast as films from chloroform and the following were recorded: melting point, solid-state NMR, X-ray diffraction. The copolyester poly(3HB-co-3MP) displayed mutiple melting peaks corresponding to separate phases rich in 3MP and 3HB. The copolyester poly(3HB-co-3MB) displayed very low crystallinity and melting points higher than that of poly(3HB) when the 3HB content was 40% or less.