The present invention provides an efficient and cost-effective process to recover highly purified PHA homopolymers and copolymers, producing novel sequestered amorphous polyhydroxyalkanoate polymer (SAPP) materials derived from cellular biomass that are crystal competent. Such resulting materials (e.g., melt-derived solids and crystalline agglomerates), as well as methods of production of the sequestered amorphous polyhydroxyalkanoate polymer (SAPP) materials and subsequent processing, demonstrate cost-effective production of PHA polymer at commercial scale, which is heretofore not been achievable. Moreover, the methods and materials produced make feasible the long-awaited achievement in the industry for competitive commercialization of PHA homopolymers and copolymers from cellular biomass.

The present invention provides an efficient and cost-effective process to recover highly purified PHA homopolymers and copolymers, producing novel sequestered amorphous polyhydroxyalkanoate polymer (SAPP) materials derived from cellular biomass that are crystal competent. Such resulting materials (e.g., melt-derived solids and crystalline agglomerates), as well as methods of production of the sequestered amorphous polyhydroxyalkanoate polymer (SAPP) materials and subsequent processing, demonstrate cost-effective production of PHA polymer at commercial scale, which is heretofore not been achievable. Moreover, the methods and materials produced make feasible the long-awaited achievement in the industry for competitive commercialization of PHA homopolymers and copolymers from cellular biomass.

The present application relates to polyurethane polymers produced by polymerizing a reactant mixture comprising triglycerides of Physaria fendleri, one or more polyisocyanates, and one or more polyols, wherein the triglycerides of Physaria fendleri have a hydroxyl value ranging from 90 milligrams of potassium hydroxide per gram of the triglycerides of Physaria fendleri to 250 milligrams of potassium hydroxide per gram of the triglycerides of Physaria fendleri. The present application also relates to polyester polymers produced by polymerizing a reactant mixture comprising triglycerides of Euphorbia Lagascae, and one or more dicarboxylic acids. Also disclosed are the methods of formation of the polyurethane and polyester polymers, and their use as adhesives.

The present application relates to polyurethane polymers produced by polymerizing a reactant mixture comprising triglycerides of Physaria fendleri, one or more polyisocyanates, and one or more polyols, wherein the triglycerides of Physaria fendleri have a hydroxyl value ranging from 90 milligrams of potassium hydroxide per gram of the triglycerides of Physaria fendleri to 250 milligrams of potassium hydroxide per gram of the triglycerides of Physaria fendleri. The present application also relates to polyester polymers produced by polymerizing a reactant mixture comprising triglycerides of Euphorbia Lagascae, and one or more dicarboxylic acids. Also disclosed are the methods of formation of the polyurethane and polyester polymers, and their use as adhesives.

A process to prepare a (iv) cyclic polyester oligomer composition includes a cyclic polyester oligomer having furanic units and two to five repeat units. The process includes (a) reacting a monomer composition including: (i) a bifunctional furan-derivative and (ii) a diol in an linear oligomerization step to produce a (iii) linear oligomer composition including a linear oligomer species, (b) reacting the (iii) linear oligomer composition in a distillation-assisted cyclization (DA-C) step to form a (iv) cyclic polyester oligomer composition and a (v) diol byproduct. The (v) diol byproduct is removed by evaporation in the distillation-assisted cyclization (DA-C) step.

A process to prepare a (iv) cyclic polyester oligomer composition includes a cyclic polyester oligomer having furanic units and two to five repeat units. The process includes (a) reacting a monomer composition including: (i) a bifunctional furan-derivative and (ii) a diol in an linear oligomerization step to produce a (iii) linear oligomer composition including a linear oligomer species, (b) reacting the (iii) linear oligomer composition in a distillation-assisted cyclization (DA-C) step to form a (iv) cyclic polyester oligomer composition and a (v) diol byproduct. The (v) diol byproduct is removed by evaporation in the distillation-assisted cyclization (DA-C) step.

A novel method for the preparation of biodegradable polymers is disclosed. The method produces polymers of high molecular weight and particularly allows for stirring throughout the polymerization reaction.

A novel method for the preparation of biodegradable polymers is disclosed. The method produces polymers of high molecular weight and particularly allows for stirring throughout the polymerization reaction.

A process of providing a medium or high molecular weight polyester powder, the resultant polyester polymer powder, and a powder coating composition that includes such powder; wherein the process includes: providing or forming an ester oligomer; converting the oligomer to a polyester polymer by stirring at elevated pressure and elevated temperature a reaction mixture that includes the oligomer and a nonreactive carrier capable of forming an azeotrope with water and xylenes; removing water from the reaction mixture via azeotropic reflux to provide a syrup including a medium or high molecular weight polyester polymer in the nonreactive carrier; and applying a vacuum to remove the xylenes from the syrup and form a solid (which may be in the form of a powder or subsequently formed into a powder) that includes the medium or high molecular weight polyester polymer.

A process of providing a medium or high molecular weight polyester powder, the resultant polyester polymer powder, and a powder coating composition that includes such powder; wherein the process includes: providing or forming an ester oligomer; converting the oligomer to a polyester polymer by stirring at elevated pressure and elevated temperature a reaction mixture that includes the oligomer and a nonreactive carrier capable of forming an azeotrope with water and xylenes; removing water from the reaction mixture via azeotropic reflux to provide a syrup including a medium or high molecular weight polyester polymer in the nonreactive carrier; and applying a vacuum to remove the xylenes from the syrup and form a solid (which may be in the form of a powder or subsequently formed into a powder) that includes the medium or high molecular weight polyester polymer.