US 12,252,611 B2
Production of bimodal molecular weight poly (hydroxyalkanoates)
Michael Mang, Bainbridge, GA (US); and Phillip Van Trump, Decatur, GA (US)
Assigned to DANIMER IPCo. LLC, Bainbridge, GA (US)
Filed by Danimer IPCo, LLC, Bainbridge, GA (US)
Filed on May 23, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/672,788.
Application 18/672,788 is a division of application No. 17/876,921, filed on Jul. 29, 2022, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/226,826, filed on Jul. 29, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0309206 A1, Sep. 19, 2024
Int. Cl. C08L 67/04 (2006.01); C08J 5/18 (2006.01)
CPC C08L 67/04 (2013.01) [C08J 5/18 (2013.01); C08J 2367/04 (2013.01); C08J 2467/04 (2013.01); C08L 2203/12 (2013.01); C08L 2203/16 (2013.01); C08L 2205/02 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
 
1. A method for making a composition having a first portion of a poly (hydroxyalkanoate) and a second portion of the poly (hydroxyalkanoate), the method comprising the steps of:
polymerizing a first charge of at least one substituted lactone to produce a first portion of a poly (hydroxyalkanoate) having a first weight average molecular weight;
polymerizing a second charge of the at least one substituted lactone to produce a second portion of the poly (hydroxyalkanoate) having a second weight average molecular weight; and
blending the first portion and the second portion to produce a final poly (hydroxyalkanoate),
wherein the at least one substituted lactone comprises beta-propiolactone and the poly (hydroxyalkanoate) comprises monomer repeat units of 3-hydroxypropionate, and wherein the second weight average molecular weight is at least 50 percent less than the first weight average molecular weight, and
wherein the step of blending the first portion and the second portion is carried out by polymerizing the second charge to form the second portion in the presence of the first portion.