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Determination of Time and Concentration Conditions Affecting Polylactic Acid (PLA) Production
Summary
Researchers evaluated the effects of catalyst concentration and reaction time on polylactic acid synthesis yield using ring-opening polymerisation, testing sulfuric acid concentrations of 40% and 60% and polymerisation durations of 10-30 minutes. Results showed that 40% catalyst concentration had a statistically significant effect on polymer yield while reaction time did not, providing optimisation data for bio-based PLA production as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-derived plastics.
Polylactic acid (PLA) is a renewable biopolymer that has attracted considerable interest due to its ability to replace petroleum-based synthetic polymers, offering a more 2 sustainable alternative to global environmental problems. The present study focused on evaluating the effect of catalyst concentration and reaction time on the efficiency of 4 PLA synthesis using the ROP (Ring-Opening Polymerization) technique. The process included a lactic acid esterification stage (88%) to obtain lactide, using sulfuric acid in 6 concentrations of 40% and 60%, followed by polymerization under different times (10, 15, 20, and 30 minutes). The results of the analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the 8 40% catalyst concentration had a statistically significant effect on polymer yield (p = 0.032), while reaction time showed no statistical significance (p = 0.196), although the highest yields were recorded at 10 and 15 minutes. FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of the characteristic functional groups of PLA, and DSC tests showed a semi-crystalline structure with a high melting temperature, indicating good thermal stability. These results validate the viability of PLA as a functional and sustainable biopolymer.