SEPARATION AND ENZYMATIC DEGRADATION OF BLEND FILMS OF POLY(L-LACTIC ACID) AND CELLULOSE

Blend films of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and cellulose with various c omposition was prepared by casting from trifluoroacetic acid solution. One hydroxyl group per each glucose unit was esterified by trifluoroa cetic acid. The trifluoroacetyl group was hydrolyzed completely during the degradation, Weight losses for 90/10 and 75/25 PLLA/cellulose ble nds by proteinaze K were greatly increased compared with pure PLLA sam ple due to the large depression of the crystallinity of PLLA component , while cellulase was effective only for the degradation of pure cellu lose film. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.