Abstract: The degradation of polybutylene succinate (PBS) membrane accelerated by cutinase was studied. PBS membranes before and after degradation were analyzed by SEM, DSC, and TG and the degradation products was analyzed by MS. It showed that, when enzyme concentration was 2.5 U/g, temperature was 37 ℃, pH was 7.4, and reaction time was 16 h, the degradation rate reached 93.88 %, the maximum degradation rate was 32.97 μg/cm2·h. SEM showed that under the reaction of cutinase, the PBS membrane was degraded into slices. DSC showed that with increasing degradation time, the crystallinity degree of PBS decreased. The result of TG also showed with increasing degradation time, the thermal stability of PBS membrane became worse. The results of MS showed that PBS film was degraded into monomers or oligomers.

Key words: poly(butylenes succinate), cutinase, degradation