CAS 25569-53-3: Ethylene glycol-succinic acid copolymer

Poly(ethylene glycol succinate) (PEG-S) is a biodegradable polymer that has been used to produce membranes for wastewater treatment plants. The PEG-S membrane allows water vapor to pass through while preventing the passage of dissolved solids. X-ray diffraction data and conformational properties have shown that PEG-S is a polymer with hydrogen bonding interactions. Hydroxyl groups on the polymer chain are responsible for the formation of hydrogen bonds, which in turn provide the polymer with hydrophilic properties. PEG-S is synthesized from succinic acid and ethylene oxide, which can be obtained from natural sources such as corn or petroleum products. The process of synthesizing PEG-S involves condensation of succinic acid with ethylene oxide followed by ring opening to form an ester linkage between two polymers chains.