Polylactic Acid
Plastics have played a major role in shaping modern society, ultimately improving the quality of life. Making up most things man-made, plastics surround us every day. They possess unique characteristics; plastics can be tough and rigid yet still flexible and can be opaque yet transparent. The building blocks of plastics are small organic molecules often known as monomers, which then join to other monomers creating long molecule chains called polymers in a process called polymerisation (Nobelprize.org, 2016). Bioplastics are expected to become the future of synthetic material, because of the simple fact that they are biodegradable, causes minimal harm to the environment and is derived from a sustainable source. The difference …show more content…
The production processes have progressively become better for the environment by using corns or, potentially, other crop rather than the diminishing fossil fuels. One of the most positive points of PLA production when compared to other hydrocarbon-based polymers is the decreased carbon dioxide (CO2) emission. Carbon dioxide is believed to be the largest contributor to the progress of global warming and climate change. Because carbon dioxide is removed from the air when corn is grown PLA has the potential to emit far less greenhouse gasses than its competitors (Jamshidian et al., 2010). This is an invaluable asset to the production plastics, decreasing the environmental impact during production of the plastic and is just one reason why polylactic acid is the plastic of the century.
The units in the table below are measured in ‘net’ emissions and are calculated by the difference between the total emissions from the cradle to the factory gate and carbon dioxide absorption during corn …show more content…
In tissue engineering PLA is used to grow cells on and then it is decomposed in the body and excreted through the kidneys or CO2 transmission. PLA Medical screws and stitches are more frequently being used due to their complete biodegradable ability and non-toxic products. Poly (lactic acid) is broken down using hydrolysis however this can only occur in temperatures above its glass transition temperature (60℃) (Domb and Jain, 2011). This is catalysed by either an alkaline or acid environment (Lazypolymer.com, n.d.). The reaction that occurs involves water breaking up, so that an OH- atom will attach to break one carbon oxygen bond and replaced the oxygen on one side; the remaining H+ atom then joins itself to the other side of the monomer. This creates the original acid and equivalent alcohol that was used during production (the alcohol varies depending on how the PLA was produced) (Mahapatro, A. and Singh, D. (2011). As it shares similar bonds to lipids or fats it is broken down in the body by microorganisms or enzymes (Hagen, n.d.). It decomposes into its acid form (lactic) and corresponding
Plastics have played a major role in shaping modern society, ultimately improving the quality of life. Making up most things man-made, plastics surround us every day. They possess unique characteristics; plastics can be tough and rigid yet still flexible and can be opaque yet transparent. The building blocks of plastics are small organic molecules often known as monomers, which then join to other monomers creating long molecule chains called polymers in a process called polymerisation (Nobelprize.org, 2016). Bioplastics are expected to become the future of synthetic material, because of the simple fact that they are biodegradable, causes minimal harm to the environment and is derived from a sustainable source. The difference …show more content…
The production processes have progressively become better for the environment by using corns or, potentially, other crop rather than the diminishing fossil fuels. One of the most positive points of PLA production when compared to other hydrocarbon-based polymers is the decreased carbon dioxide (CO2) emission. Carbon dioxide is believed to be the largest contributor to the progress of global warming and climate change. Because carbon dioxide is removed from the air when corn is grown PLA has the potential to emit far less greenhouse gasses than its competitors (Jamshidian et al., 2010). This is an invaluable asset to the production plastics, decreasing the environmental impact during production of the plastic and is just one reason why polylactic acid is the plastic of the century.
The units in the table below are measured in ‘net’ emissions and are calculated by the difference between the total emissions from the cradle to the factory gate and carbon dioxide absorption during corn …show more content…
In tissue engineering PLA is used to grow cells on and then it is decomposed in the body and excreted through the kidneys or CO2 transmission. PLA Medical screws and stitches are more frequently being used due to their complete biodegradable ability and non-toxic products. Poly (lactic acid) is broken down using hydrolysis however this can only occur in temperatures above its glass transition temperature (60℃) (Domb and Jain, 2011). This is catalysed by either an alkaline or acid environment (Lazypolymer.com, n.d.). The reaction that occurs involves water breaking up, so that an OH- atom will attach to break one carbon oxygen bond and replaced the oxygen on one side; the remaining H+ atom then joins itself to the other side of the monomer. This creates the original acid and equivalent alcohol that was used during production (the alcohol varies depending on how the PLA was produced) (Mahapatro, A. and Singh, D. (2011). As it shares similar bonds to lipids or fats it is broken down in the body by microorganisms or enzymes (Hagen, n.d.). It decomposes into its acid form (lactic) and corresponding