Click Synthesis and the Properties Study of Sustainable and Biodegradable Furan-based Poly(imino-furano-triazole)

The development of new polymeric materials using renewable resources is a crucial task in the field of materials science because of the finite nature of nonrenewable resources. This work presents the synthesis of a novel sustainable poly(imino-furano-triazole) (PIFT) through a one-pot approach with CuAAC and subsequent polycondensation reactions between 5-(azidomethyl)furfural and propargylamine, resulting in the formation of a furan- and triazole-containing polymeric Schiff base. The obtained material was analyzed via a range of techniques, including NMR, FT-IR spectroscopy, SEM, and TGA. The synthesized PIFT exhibited high crystallinity and excellent thermal stability, with a char yield of 53% after pyrolysis at 850 °C and a limiting oxygen index of 38. The thermal properties of this polymer are relatively unaffected by the solvent used during the reaction, and the polymer is insoluble in most organic solvents, except for its solubility in hot DMSO and DMF. The use of the material as the sole source of carbon and energy for the cultivation of Rhodococcus erythropolis and Pseudomonas fluorescens demonstrated that these microorganisms are able to metabolize the polymer, suggesting its potential for biodegradation. At this stage of the study, biofouling of the material was used as a preliminary method to confirm the potential biodegradability of the material, without conducting a detailed examination of the degradation pathways, formed metabolites, and enzymatic systems involved. Changes in the polymer surface morphology observed using SEM serve as an indication confirming the possibility of microbial growth and reproduction on the material’s surface in the absence of other organic nutrients, thereby confirming the ability of microorganisms to utilize PIFT as a substrate. These findings are of significant interest for the development of renewable, highly thermally stable and nonconductive polymers suitable for bioprocessing and applications in anticorrosion coatings and insulation.