Phase behaviour of L-lactic acid based polymers of low molecular weight in supercritical carbon dioxide at high pressures

The results of investigations of phase behaviour in the systems L-lactic acid based polymers + carbon dioxide at high pressures are presented. The measurements have been performed in wide temperature and composition ranges. Two samples of the polymer differing in molecular weight (M,: 1080 and 3990 g/mol) have been investigated. Both samples of the polymer were characterized with the gel permeation chromatography and NMR spectroscopy. The influence of the structure of the polymer on the solubility in supercritical carbon dioxide has been discussed. The results obtained suggest that the solubility of low molecular weight L-lactic acid based polymers in supercritical carbon dioxide is not controlled by its size, but to a large extent by the character of its terminal groups. The phase behaviour in the system L-lactic acid + carbon dioxide has been also investigated and the results were compared with those for the systems composed Of L-lactic acid based polymers and carbon dioxide. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.