Polylactic acid (PLA) is a novel biodegradable material made from starch raw materials proposed from renewable plant resources such as corn. The starch raw material is saccharified to obtain glucose and then fermented by glucose and certain strains to produce high-purity lactic acid and then synthesize polylactic acid with a certain molecular weight by chemical synthesis. It has good biodegradability and can be completely degraded by natural microorganisms after use, eventually producing carbon dioxide and water without polluting the environment, which is beneficial to protecting the environment and is recognized as an environmentally friendly material.
Advantages of PLA
1. Sufficient sources of raw materials The raw materials for producing polylactic acid are renewable resources such as corn, without using precious natural resources such as petroleum and wood, so it will play a very protective role in the depletion of petroleum resources.
2. Superior physical properties Polylactic acid is suitable for various processing methods such as blow molding and thermoplastic. It is easy to process and widely used. It can process various plastic products from industry to civilian use, packaged food, fast food lunch boxes, non-woven fabrics, and industrial and civilian fabrics. Then it can be processed into agricultural fabrics, health care fabrics, rags, hygiene products, outdoor anti-ultraviolet fabrics, tent fabrics, floor mats, etc. The market prospect is very promising.
3. Biocompatibility Polylactic acid also has excellent biocompatibility, and its degradation product, L-lactic acid, can participate in human metabolism. It has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and can be used as medical surgical sutures and injections. Capsules, microspheres, implants, etc.
4. Good air permeability Polylactic acid (PLA) film has good air permeability, oxygen permeability, and carbon dioxide permeability and has the characteristic of isolating odor. Viruses and molds are easy to attach to the surface of biodegradable plastics, so there are doubts about safety and hygiene. However, polylactic acid is the only biodegradable plastic with excellent antibacterial and anti-mildew properties.
5. Biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) can be completely degraded by microorganisms in nature after use and finally generate carbon dioxide and water without polluting the environment. This is beneficial to protecting the environment and is recognized as an environmentally friendly material.
PLA is one of the most researched biodegradable materials at home and abroad. Food packaging, disposable tableware, and medical materials are its three popular application fields. PLA uses natural lactic acid as the main raw material. It has good biodegradability and biocompatibility. Its life cycle load on the environment is significantly lower than that of petroleum-based materials. It is considered to be the most promising green packaging material.
As a new type of pure bio-based material, PLA has great market application prospects. Its good physical properties and the environmental protection of the material itself will inevitably make PLA more widely used in the future.
