PLA Synthesis in Solution

This thesis is studying PLA syntheses using polymerization of lactides in solution. Theoretical part deals with properties and production of lactic acid, lactides and polylactides. In the experimental part, possibilities of lactides polymerization in solution has been summerised and verified. Syntheses were performed via “solvothermal” method using 7 solvents (toluene, chloroforme, 1,2-chlorobenzene, acetone, tetrahydrofurane, cyclohexane and hexane). Using hexane as solvent, at concentration ratio catalyzer/lactide 1 : 1 000, polymerization temperature 160 °C and reaction time 20 h, polylactide of viscosity average molecular weight 179 000 gmol–1 was synthetized from the lactide