Purac, a subsidiary of Dutch bakery product and lactic acid derivate maker CSM, is planning to offer an alternative feedstock source for the manufacture of polylactic acid-based bioplastics.
The company aims to extend its existing portfolio with lactides, which it says will provide bioplastics makers with “technical and economical solutions” that have so far restrained them from entering the PLA market.
It is currently talking to leading plastics producers, investigating the investments necessary to meet future demand and hopes to have plant in place by 2009/10.
In addition to its patented lactides, the company is to expand its portfolio with D(-) technology, saying that with compounded (D-) and L+ PLA polymers it is possible to make bioplastics that withstand temperatures of at least 175ºC for such applications as hot fill bottles, microwaveable trays and electronic and automotive parts.
Explaining the rationale, Purac vp chemicals and pharma, Arno van de Ven says: ”Market growth has been hampered by the availability of economically achievable production technology. By using lactides as a monomer for PLA production, Purac bridges the technology that currently restricts the plastics industry to accelerate the PLA market growth.”
“The lactide technology will reduce costs and investments for the bioplastics industry and significantly contribute to the growth of the PLA market.”
