Poly(lactic acid) degradable plastics, coatings, and binders

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:5458866

Bonsignore, P V; Coleman, R D; Mudde, J P

Biochemical processes to derive value from the management of high carbohydrate food wastes, such as potato starch, corn starch, and cheese whey permeate, have typically been limited to the production of either ethanol or methane. Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) believes that lactic acid presents an attractive option for an alternate fermentation end product, especially in light of lactic acids' being a viable candidate for conversion to environmentally safe poly(lactic acid) (PLA) degradable plastics, coatings, and binders. Technology is being developed at ANL to permit a more cost effective route to modified high molecular weight PLA. Preliminary data on the degradation behavior of these modified PLAs shows the retention to the inherent hydrolytic degradability of the PLA modified, however, by introduced compositional variables. A limited study was done on the hydrolytic stability of soluble oligomers of poly(L-lactic acid). Over a 34 day hold period, water-methanol solutions of Pl-LA oligomers in the 2-10 DP range retained some 75% of their original molecular weight.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 5458866
• Report Number(s): ANL/CP-75282; CONF-9205133--1; ON: DE92010903
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360601* -- Other Materials-- Preparation & Manufacture
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201 -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
BINDERS
BIODEGRADATION
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COATINGS
DECOMPOSITION
HYDROXY ACIDS
LACTIC ACID
MATERIALS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLASTICS
POLYMERIZATION
POLYMERS
SYNTHESIS
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS