Solvothermal Alcoholysis Routes for Recycling Polylactide Waste as Lactic Acid Esters
Abstract
In this work, we investigated the possible use of polylactide (PLA), a biodegradable polymer obtained from renewable biofeedstock, to produce a range of industrially useful lactic acid esters. We describe a simple and convenient solvothermal alcoholysis method for large-scale recycling of PLA resins or residues from disposable packaging in the presence of the appropriate alcohol under catalyst-free or catalytic conditions. This process proceeds easily both without and with a catalyst. The results show that the best catalytic activities involve magnesium and calcium alkoxides synthesized in situ from organometallic or metallic precursors and an alcohol. We determined the crystal structure of the chiral mononuclear postcatalyst [Ca(LAc) 2 (EL) 2 ] ( 1; LAc = lactic acid anion, EL = ethyl lactate), obtained directly from the reactor. Particular emphasis is placed on the operating conditions and high activity of the catalyst used. Key factors that affect the catalytic activity and reaction mechanism are also highlighted.
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The presence of catalyst enables milder reaction conditions and among the screened metal catalysts, magnesium and calcium alkoxides generated in situ from the metallic precursors and alcohols gave the best yields (>90%) and negligible epimerization.
“The presence of catalyst enables milder reaction conditions and among the screened metal catalysts, magnesium and calcium alkoxides generated in situ from the metallic precursors and alcohols gave the best yields (>90%) and negligible epimerization.”
From Catalysis as an Enabling Science for Sustainable Polymers (2018) · cites this paper as [440]
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Catalysis as an Enabling Science for Sustainable Polymers
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- Authors
- Petrus, R., Bykowski, D., & Sobota, P.
- Affiliations
- University of Wrocław (PL)
- Corresponding author
- Sobota, Piotr
- Venue
- ACS Catalysis
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2016-07-12
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 5222-5235
- ISSN
- 2155-5435 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2467604457
- Cited by
- 181
- References
- 64
- Citations by year
- 2026: 45 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 3
- FWCI
- 3.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- ACS Catalysis (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Narodowe Centrum Nauki (2014/B/ST5/01512)
- European Regional Development Fund (POIG.01.01.02-02-003/08)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties
- Physical Sciences › Chemical Engineering › Process Chemistry and Technology › Carbon dioxide utilization in catalysis
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Polymers and Plastics › Polymer crystallization and properties
- Keywords
- polylactic acid, lactic acid esters, alcoholysis, solvothermal synthesis, polymer recycling, disposable packaging, magnesium alkoxides, crystal structure, reaction mechanism, catalyst-free conditions
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