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Catalytic Synthesis and Characterization of Biodegradable ...

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1.3 Polylactide<br />

1.3.1 Introduction<br />

- 11 -<br />

Polymerization <strong>and</strong> Applications <strong>of</strong> <strong>Biodegradable</strong> Polyesters<br />

Polylactide (PLA) is biodegradable, thermoplastic, aliphatic polyester derived from lactic<br />

acid, which is made from renewable resources, such as corn starch or sugarcanes. 38 PLA has<br />

similar mechanical properties to polyethylene terephthalate, but has a significantly lower<br />

maximum continuous use temperature. Poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) is the most important PLA. It<br />

is a semicrystalline polymer <strong>and</strong> has a crystallinity around 37%, a glass transition temperature<br />

~67 <strong>and</strong> a melting temperature ~180 . PLA can be processed like all other thermoplastic<br />

polymers with extrusion, injection molding, blow molding, or fiber spinning processes into<br />

various products. The products can be recycled after use either by remelting <strong>and</strong> processing<br />

the material a second time or they can be hydrolyzed into lactic acid, the basic chemical. The<br />

last possibility is to compost the polylactide to introduce it into the natural life cycle <strong>of</strong> all<br />

biomass, where it degrades into CO2 <strong>and</strong> water. PLA can be recycled following the traditional<br />

ways, composted like all other organic matter, <strong>and</strong> it will do no harm if burned in an<br />

incineration plant or introduced into a classical waste management system. PLA becomes <strong>of</strong><br />

commercial interest in recent years, in light <strong>of</strong> its biodegradability.<br />

1.3.2 <strong>Synthesis</strong> <strong>of</strong> PLA<br />

Figure 1.3.1 synthesis <strong>of</strong> PLA by the polycondensation <strong>of</strong> lactic acid.<br />

PLA can be prepared by direct polycondensation <strong>of</strong> lactic acid (Figure 1.3.1), which is<br />

produced from the bacterial fermentation <strong>of</strong> corn starch or cane sugar. 39 However, it is usually<br />

difficult to obtain high molecular weight polymer by polycondensation. Because each<br />

polymerization reaction generates one molecule <strong>of</strong> water, the presence <strong>of</strong> which degrades the<br />

forming polymer chain <strong>and</strong> results in the generation <strong>of</strong> low molecular weight PLA. So water<br />

has to be removed during the polycondensation in order to generate PLA with high molecular<br />

weight. Yamaguchi et al. has reported the synthesis <strong>of</strong> high molecular weight PLA by using<br />

molecular sieve to dry water during direct polycondensation. 40 However long reaction times<br />

<strong>and</strong> high temperatures are required in lactic acid polycondensation. 41

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