Question

Write the names of the monomers of PHBV polymer.

Answer 1

Hint: A molecule that forms the basic unit for polymers and combines either by condensation or by addition reactions. Monomers bind to other monomers forming a repeating chain of molecules through the process known as polymerization.

Complete step by step solution:
-Monomers may be either natural or artificial based on their origin.
-PHBV in PHBV polymer stands for 3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxy valerate.
-PHBV is a naturally occurring, polyhydroxyalkanoates type polymer.
-PHBV polymer is a biodegradable, non-toxic, and biocompatible plastic polymer which is produced naturally by bacteria which offers a good alternative over many non-biodegradable synthetic polymers.
-PHBV can be naturally synthesized under growth-limiting conditions by bacteria as storage compounds from glucose and propionate. It can also be synthesized artificially by genetically engineered plants.
-PHBV is a copolymer of two monomers named 3-hydroxybutanoic acid and 3-hydroxypentanoic acid. It can also be synthesized from butyrolactone and valerolactone in the presence of od catalyst, which is oligomeric aluminoxane.
-The monomers of PHBV polymers, that is 3-hydroxybutanoic acid and 3-hydroxypentanoic acid are joined by ester bonds. Carbon and oxygen atoms form the backbone of this polymer. The property of PHBV polymer mainly depends on the ratio in which the monomers are combined.

Note: PHBV is specially used in packaging, orthopaedic devices in the controlled release of drugs. It is a thermoplastic polymer, that is it becomes moldable at a certain elevated temperature and solidifies on cooling. PHBV while bacterial degradation acts like an energy source to microorganisms. PHBV has low thermal stability and the elimination reaction in it produces cleavage at the ester bonds. It is used in medical applications as hydrolytic degradation occurs very slowly.