Enzymatic Polymerization of Phenolic Biomonomers Derived from Cashew Nut Shell Liquid

Enzymatic polymerization of alkyl phenols derived from a renewable resource, viz., cashew nut shell, has been carried out in a dioxane-water mixture. The reaction and reaction products have been characterized by a number of spectroscopic, microscopic, and thermometric methods. These monomers have also been copolymerized with various substituted phenols. The homopolymers are soluble in organic solvents while the copolymers are crosslinked, with negligible solubility. Enzymatic polymerization in a dioxane-water solvent mixture results in spherical particles in the case of homopolymerization while structures without distinctive morphologies are obtained in the case of copolymerization. The effects of dioxane-water composition and solution pH on the polymerization reaction have also been explored.