China’s Polylactic Acid Industry: Current Status and Development Strategies

Abstract

Polylactic acid, a typical carbon-neutral, renewable, and biodegradable polymer, has been gradually developing as a kind of fundamental bulk raw material required for national economic and social development. The industrial chain of polylactic acid materials is composed of bio-manufacturing of lactic acid monomer; chemical polymerization of lactic acid monomer; modification, processing, and molding of lactic acid; product manufacturing; quality control and environmental release management of lactic acid materials. It is a new industry section collected with the latest technical achievements in bio-fermentation industry, chemical industry, polymer material industry, and modern management. Based on a comparative analysis of the status quo of technology research and industry development of polylactic acid materials in China and abroad, following aspects focusing on the problems and countermeasures in the development of China’s polylactic acid material industry were discussed and proposed: the diversity and safety balance of raw materials supply, manufacturing technology and equipment, product diversity and key development areas of the industrial chain, quality control system and environmental release management and evaluation system, policy support and guidance. This study can provide references for polylactic acid technique evolution, application expansion, and industrial development.

Keywords

• polylactic acid, monomer production
• chemical synthesis, material modification and processing, industry development, core technologies