Abstract

Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the most versatile biopolymers, being available in large quantities produced by industrial fabrication in a wide range of grades. PLA is aliphatic polyester of lactic acid (2-hydroxypropanoic). Lactic acid can be obtained from the microbial fermentation of carbohydrate or chemical synthesis from the petrochemical. There are many ways to obtain PLA from lactic acid. The main methods are: direct condensation of lactic acid, azeotropic dehydration polymerization, and ring opening polymerization. PLA it is a relatively cheap polymer and has some remarkable properties, being suitable for different applications such as automotive, packaging, consumer goods, building and construction, consumer electronics, sportswear, biomedical. Nowadays, biopolymers such as starch, protein, cellulose, chitosan, PLA, and their derivatives are used in food packaging. These biopolymers are used as edible film or coating on the food with the aim of reducing the loss of moisture, prevention of oxidation, decreasing the migration of lipids, and so on. According to the latest market data, global bioplastics production capacity is set to increase from around 2.05 million tons in 2017 to approximately 2.44 million tons in 2022. Innovative biopolymers such as PLA and PHAs (polyhydroxyalkanoates) are the main drivers of this growth in the field of bio-based, biodegradable plastics. The development of packaging materials based on PLA polymers is expected to grow in the future with major focuses on enhancing food safety and quality and concurrently exploring alternatives to synthetic polymers made from petrochemicals that are less environment friendly.

Authors and Affiliations