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Degradation of Polylactic Acid by Irradiation

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Abstract

Polylactic acid (PLA) waste has various treatment methods, such as natural decomposition, composting, incineration, and hydrolysis. Degradation of PLA waste by gamma ray and pulsed light irradiation is an efficient, safe and innovative method that also protects the environment. The focus of this study was on the development of an alternative, green technology for solving the PLA waste disposal problem of PLA, rather than using incineration or the landfill method. We used a novel approach to identify the thermal decomposition and heat properties of crystalline poly lactic acid, non-crystalline polylactic acid, and blend polylactic acid. The approach involved the degradation of the materials with gamma ray and pulsed light irradiation followed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). We also developed a novel approach to the heat effect, including heat reactivity properties by TGA tests and thermal mass loss simulation for proper application, processing, and waste treatment conditions. The data from this study can be used to improve the design of operation and waste treatment protocols for PLA, which will benefit the environment.

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Abbreviations

E a :

Activation energy of thermal decomposition (kJ/mol)

E 1 :

Activation energy of the 1st stage (kJ/mol)

E 2 :

Activation energy of the 2nd stage (kJ/mol)

f i :

Kinetic functions of the ith stage; i = 1, 2, 3

k 0 :

Pre-exponential factor (mol1−n·dm3n−3/s)

k i :

Reaction rate constant (mol1− (m+n)·L(m+n)−1/s); i = 1, 2

n :

Reaction order, dimensionless

n i :

Reaction order of the ith stage, dimensionless; i = 1, 2, 3

R :

Gas constant (8.31415 J/K/mol)

r i :

Reaction rate of the ith stage (g/s); i = 1, 2, 3, 4

T :

Absolute temperature (K)

TCL:

Time to conversion limit (year)

TMR:

Time to maximum rate under isothermal conditions (day)

t :

Time (s)

z :

Autocatalytic constant, dimensionless

α :

Degree of conversion, dimensionless

γ :

Degree of conversion, dimensionless

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Acknowledgements

The authors are indebted to the National Science Council (NSC), Taiwan, R.O.C. under the contract No.: MOST 105-2815-C-468-072-E and the Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taiwan, R.O.C. under the contract No.: ASIA104-CMUH-20 for financial support; the authors are grateful to Yao Qing Biotechnology Co., Ltd. in Taiwan, R.O.C. for providing the polylactic acid materials. In addition, the authors are indebted to SD Biotech Inc. in Taiwan for technical support for the pulsed light experiments and the Instrumentation Centre at the National Tsing Hua University for support with the TGA experiments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, 2, Yude Rd., Taichung, 40447, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Hsiang-Yu Lin

  2. Department of Health and Nutrition Biotechnology, Asia University, 500, Lioufeng Rd., Wufeng, Taichung, 41354, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Shu-Yao Tsai, Hsuan-Ti Yu & Chun-Ping Lin

  3. Office of Environmental Safety and Health, Asia University, 500, Lioufeng Rd., Wufeng, Taichung, 41354, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Chun-Ping Lin

  4. Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, 91, Hsueh-Shih Rd., Taichung, 40402, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Chun-Ping Lin

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  1. Hsiang-Yu Lin
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  2. Shu-Yao Tsai
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  4. Chun-Ping Lin
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Correspondence to Chun-Ping Lin.

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Lin, HY., Tsai, SY., Yu, HT. et al. Degradation of Polylactic Acid by Irradiation. J Polym Environ 26, 122–131 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-016-0928-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-016-0928-7

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