title: GREEN CHEMISTRY. Shape-selective zeolite catalysis for bioplastics production.
abstract: Biodegradable and renewable polymers, such as polylactic acid, are benign alternatives for petrochemical-based plastics. Current production of polylactic acid via its key building block lactide, the cyclic dimer of lactic acid, is inefficient in terms of energy, time, and feedstock use. We present a direct zeolite-based catalytic process, which converts lactic acid into lactide. The shape-selective properties of zeolites are essential to attain record lactide yields, outperforming those of the current multistep process by avoiding both racemization and side-product formation. The highly productive process is strengthened by facile recovery and practical reactivation of the catalyst, which remains structurally fit during at least six consecutive reactions, and by the ease of solvent and side-product recycling.
authors.affiliation: Center for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 23, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium. michiel.dusselier@gmail.com bert.sels@biw.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Michiel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dusselier
authors.affiliation: Center for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 23, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Wouwe
authors.affiliation: Center for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 23, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: Annelies
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dewaele
authors.affiliation: Center for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 23, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pierre A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.affiliation: Center for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 23, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium. michiel.dusselier@gmail.com bert.sels@biw.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Bert F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Sels
mesh_terms: D063566:Biodegradable Plastics / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D002384:Catalysis; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D017641:Zeolites / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D063566:Biodegradable Plastics; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D017641:Zeolites; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide)