A Highly Active and Selective Zirconium-Based Catalyst System for the Industrial Production of Poly(lactic acid).

ABSTRACT: The biodegradable, aliphatic polyester poly(lactic acid), PLA, is a leading bio-based alternative to petrochemical-derived plastic materials across a range of applications. Widely reported in the available literature as a benchmark for PLA production via the bulk ring-opening polymerization of lactides is the use of divalent tin catalysts, and particularly tin(II) bis(2-ethylhexanoate). We present an alternative zirconium-based system that combines an inexpensive Group IV metal with the robustness, high activity, control, and designed compatibility with existing facilities and processes, that are required for industrial use. We have carried out a comprehensive kinetic study and applied a combined experimental and theoretical approach to understanding the mechanism by which the polym

SUBMITTER: Buchard A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9942235 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature