The aromatic diamine 2-(4-aminophenyl)ethylamine (4APEA) is a potential monomer for polymers and advanced materials. Here, 4APEA was produced by fermentation using genetically engineered Escherichia coli (Masuo et al.2016). Optimizing fed-batch cultures of this strain produced the highest reported yield to date of 4APEA (7.2%; 3.5 g/L versus glucose) within 72 h. Appropriate aeration was important to maximize production and avoid unfavorable 4APEA degradation. Fermented 4APEA was purified from culture medium and polymerized with methylene diphenyldiisocyanate and hexamethylene diisocyanate to produce polyureas PU-1 and PU-2, respectively. The decomposition temperatures for 10% weight loss (Td10) of PU-1 and PU-2 were 276 °C and 302 °C, respectively, and were comparable with that of other thermostable aromatic polyureas. This study is the first to synthesize polyureas from the microbial aromatic diamine. Their excellent thermostability will be useful for the industrial production of heat-resistant polymer materials.

中文翻译：

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发酵生产2-(4-氨基苯基)乙胺合成新型耐热生物聚脲。

芳香族二胺 2-(4-氨基苯基)乙胺 (4APEA) 是聚合物和先进材料的潜在单体。在这里，4APEA 是通过使用基因工程大肠杆菌发酵生产的（Masuo 等人，2016 年）。优化该菌株的分批补料培养在 72 小时内产生了迄今为止报告的最高产量 4APEA（7.2%；3.5 g/L 对葡萄糖）。适当的曝气对于最大限度地提高产量和避免不利的 4APEA 降解非常重要。从培养基中纯化发酵的 4APEA，并与亚甲基二苯基二异氰酸酯和六亚甲基二异氰酸酯聚合，分别生产聚脲 PU-1 和 PU-2。PU-1和PU-2的10%失重（Td10）的分解温度分别为276°C和302°C，与其他耐热芳香族聚脲的分解温度相当。本研究首次以微生物芳香二胺为原料合成聚脲。它们优异的热稳定性将有助于耐热高分子材料的工业化生产。