In this work, the effect of the catalysts tetrabutyl titanate(IV) (TBT), titanium(IV) isopropoxide (TIS), tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate (TEH) and dibutyltin(IV) oxide (DBTO) on the synthesis of poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF) was studied during a two-stage melt polycondensation process. In all reactions, 2,5-dimethylfuran-dicarboxylate (DMFD) and ethylene glycol (EG) in 1 : 2 molar ratios, and 400 ppm of catalyst were used. The rate of the transesterification reaction (first stage) was evaluated by measuring the volume of the distilled methanol and for the polycondensation reaction (second stage) by the increase of intrinsic viscosity. For the first stage, all catalysts had a similar effect to methanol distillation, except for TEH which was found to be the slowest catalyst, while for the second stage TIS and TBT were found to be the most effective catalysts, followed by DBTO and TEH, which again had the lowest reactivity. Coloration of the prepared polyesters was measured using the L*a*b* colour space system and was found to be dependent on catalyst type and melt polycondensation time, with titanate catalysts yielding the highest coloration. White coloured polyesters can be obtained after dissolution in trifluroacetic acid and chloroform mixture, and precipitation in methanol. Decomposition by-products formed throughout the different processes were identified in solution and elucidated by using liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Similar decomposition products were detected in all chromatographs and therefore concentration in samples prepared with titanate catalysts might be the cause of the higher colour intensity of these samples.

In the present study, three new biobased furanoate polyesters with potential use in food packaging applications, named poly(isosorbide furanoate) (PIsF), poly(methyl-propylene furanoate) (PMePF) and poly(1,4-cyclohexane-dimethylene 2,5-furanoate) (PCHDMF) were synthesized. As monomers for the preparation of the polyesters, 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and diols with irregular or complicated structure were used, including isosorbide (IS), 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol (MPD) and 1,4-cyclohexane-dimethanol (CHDM). The polymerization process was carried out via melt polycondensation method. The structural characteristics and thermal behavior of the polymers were studied. The kinetic fragility of the amorphous phase of the polymers was evaluated. The thermal degradation was studied by means of thermogravimetry and a pyrolysis Py-GC/MS (Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy) system to estimate the degradation mechanism.

The goal of this study was to synthesize, through a facile strategy, high molecular weight poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF), which could be applicable in food packaging applications. The efficient method to generate PEF with high molecular weight consists of carrying out a first solid-state polycondensation under vacuum for 6 h reaction time at 205 °C for the resulting polymer from two-step melt polycondensation process, which is catalyzed by tetrabutyl titanate (TBT). A remelting step was thereafter applied for 15 min at 250 °C for the obtained polyester. Thus, the PEF sample was ground into powder, and was then crystallized for 6 h at 170 °C. This polyester is then submitted to a second solid-state polycondensation (SSP) carried out at different reaction times (1, 2, 3.5, and 5 h) and temperatures 190, 200, and 205 °C, under vacuum. Ultimately, a significant increase in intrinsic viscosity is observed with only 5 h reaction time at 205 °C during the second SSP being needed to obtain very high molecular weight PEF polymer greater than 1 dL/g, which sufficient for manufacturing purposes. Intrinsic viscosity (IV), carboxyl end-group content (–COOH), and thermal properties, via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), were measured for all resultant polyesters. Thanks to the post-polymerization process, DSC results showed that the melting temperatures of the prepared PEF samples were steadily enhanced in an obvious way as a function of reaction time and temperature increase. It was revealed, as was expected for all SSP samples, that the intrinsic viscosity and the average molecular weight of PEF polyester increased with increasing SSP time and temperature, whereas the number of carboxyl end-group concentration was decreased. A simple kinetic model was also developed and used to predict the time evolution of polyesters IV, as well as the carboxyl and hydroxyl end-groups of PEF during the SSP.