Solubility of Polyhydroxyalkanoates by Thermodynamic Predictions

Advancing the chemical engineering fundamentals

Thermodynamics (T2-1P)

Dr Ho-Shing Wu
Yuan Ze University
Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
135, Yuan Tung Road, Chungli, Taoyuan, 32003, TAIWAN
Taiwan, Province of China

Mr nicolas jacquel
Ecole Supérieure de Chimie, Physique et Electronique de Lyon
Chemistry and Process Engineering
Chemistry and Process Engineering Department, Ecole Supérieure de Chimie, Physique et Electronique de Lyon, FRANCE.
France

Mr Chi-Wei Lo
Yuan Ze University
Chemical Engineering and Materials Science

Taiwan, Province of China

Prof Yu-Hong WEI
Yuan Ze University
Graduate School of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics
Graduate School of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Yuan Ze University, ChungLi, TAIWAN
Taiwan, Province of China

Prof Shaw S. WANG
Yuan Ze University
Chemical Engineering and Materials Science

Taiwan, Province of China

Keywords: Solubility, Polyhydroxyalkanoates, solubility parameter, PHAs, Modeling

This paper presents and develop a thermodynamic model to predict the solubility of polyhydroxyalkanoates in solvents. This model combines a new way to evaluate the polymer solubility parameters and regressions between experimental solubility and solubility parameters.
Important parameters which influence solubility such as temperature and polymer molecular weight have been studied. Some experiments have also been carried out on PHB-co-Hx copolymers of different contents. Finally, a model which takes into account these parameters have been established and tested on 232 experimental points. Results show that this method could be very useful for the selection of a solvent with high efficiency, low price and low toxicity.

Presented Monday 17, 13:30 to 15:00, in session Thermodynamics (T2-1P).