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Synthesis of high molecular weight polylactic acid from aqueous lactic acid co-catalyzed by tin(II)chloride dihydrate and succinic anhydride

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Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

Polylactic acid was synthesized from commercial available cheap aqueous lactic acid (85%–90% w/w) using succinic anhydride and SnCl2.2H2O as catalyst in the absence of organic solvents. As a result, polylactic acid with a molecular weight of 60000 was prepared in 10 h. The new procedure is much simple, cheap and outstanding in that the start material is aqueous lactic acid; the catalytic system is environmentally benign.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials of Gansu Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwest Normal University, 730070, Lanzhou, China

    Ziqiang Lei, Yanbin Bai & Shoufeng Wang

Authors
  1. Ziqiang Lei
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  2. Yanbin Bai
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  3. Shoufeng Wang
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Correspondence to Ziqiang Lei.

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Lei, Z., Bai, Y. & Wang, S. Synthesis of high molecular weight polylactic acid from aqueous lactic acid co-catalyzed by tin(II)chloride dihydrate and succinic anhydride. Chin.Sci.Bull. 50, 2390–2392 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1360/982005-1208

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1360/982005-1208

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