Techno-Economic Assessment of a Closed-Loop Circular Economy for Polylactic Acid.

ABSTRACT: As the global demand for polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable plastic, continues to increase, both its production and consumption have been increasing steadily each year. This growth poses challenges for managing PLA waste disposal, highlighting the need for innovative solutions. In this study, techno-economic simulations were performed to recycle waste PLA using three distinct processes across seven different scenarios. These processes not only address waste management issues but also promote a transition from a linear to a circular plastic economy. The findings demonstrate that, compared to conventional industrial processes, the proposed recycling method using a TiO₂/SiO₂ catalyst has significantly increased PLA yield by 59.87% while reducing costs by 22.87%. The

SUBMITTER: Zhang R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12308880 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature