Depolymerization of Polylactic Acid in A Semi-Batch Reactor: Product Yields and Distributions

Sivri S., Dilek Ç., Sezgi N. A.

POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE, vol.65, no.8, pp.4262-4273, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 65 Issue: 8
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.1002/pen.27292
  • Journal Name: POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, PASCAL, Aerospace Database, Applied Science & Technology Source, Biotechnology Research Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, Computer & Applied Sciences, INSPEC, Metadex, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.4262-4273
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

In this work, PLA was degraded in a semi-batch reactor under argon atmosphere at different degradation temperatures and times to determine products and to investigate the effect of reaction parameters on the product distribution. It was observed that PLA started to degrade at 200 degrees C and there was relatively a small amount of solid in the reactor at 250 degrees C for 60 min. The yield of condensable and non-condensable products increased significantly between 200 degrees C and 250 degrees C. Above 250 degrees C, the non-condensable product yield gradually increased with the increase in temperature, while the condensable product yield gradually decreased. Lactide isomers, lactic acid, acetaldehyde, and CO were the main products in the studied degradation temperature and time. Among the studied parameter range, the highest yield of lactide isomers (48.5 wt. %) was observed at 225 degrees C and 480 min and about three-fifths of the lactide isomers were D,L lactide type.