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Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis of Poly( L ‐lactic acid) via Direct Melt Polycondensation Using Solid Super‐Acids
Author(s) -
Cao Hai Lei,
Wang Peng,
Yuan Wei Bo
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.200900231
Subject(s) - catalysis , microwave irradiation , condensation polymer , irradiation , microwave , microwave heating , activation energy , materials science , polymer chemistry , lactic acid , chemistry , nuclear chemistry , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , physics , bacteria , computer science , telecommunications , biology , nuclear physics , engineering , genetics
A microwave‐assisted method of synthesizing high‐molecular‐weight PLA using SSA as green catalyst was developed. Yellowish PLA with $\overline M _{\rm v}$ above 2.0 × 10 4 g · mol −1 was obtained when the reaction was run at 260 °C within 60 min under microwave irradiation with 0.4 wt.‐% SSA. This method used only 10% of the energy consumption necessary for conventional heating, and the catalyst could be used five times without losing catalytic activity. The improvement in $\overline M _{\rm v}$ and the decrease in the energy consumption under microwave irradiation suggested that selective heating and hot spots effects played a crucial role. The method was shown to be a time‐saving, green and a promising way to lower the cost and spread the application of PLA.