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Melt Phase Polymerization of Racemic Lactide to High‐Performance Poly(Lactic Acid)
Author(s) -
Paetz Caspar,
Hagen Rainer
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
chemie ingenieur technik
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.365
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1522-2640
pISSN - 0009-286X
DOI - 10.1002/cite.201300126
Subject(s) - lactide , polymerization , lactic acid , monomer , yield (engineering) , catalysis , melting point , materials science , chemical engineering , phase (matter) , polymer chemistry , chemistry , organic chemistry , polymer , metallurgy , biology , bacteria , engineering , genetics
A process for the production of poly(lactic acid) with a melting point of > 150 °C from racemic lactide was developed. Only process steps that are usable in an industrial process were included to ensure an easy transfer to a commercial scale. A stereoselective catalyst system for lactide melt phase polymerization comprising of an Al‐salen initiator, a hydroxyl cocatalyst and an acidic quenching additive was developed. Monomer recovery aspects, temperature variation and different catalyst concentrations were evaluated to allow for a high yield process which can be transferred to a technical scale.