Abstract: A process for the continuous production of lactic acid (a first fermentation product) and of a second fermentation product selected from the group consisting of alcohols and biogas, may include starting from the milling, necessarily carried out under dry conditions, of cereals and more particularly of corn. In the context of this process, a main flow and a flow of wastes which are difficult to ferment are recovered from the milling. These two flows are treated separately but simultaneously so as to produce, by fermentation, on the one hand, lactic acid and, on the other hand, an alcohol and/or biogas.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for purifying an aqueous lactic acid solution, obtained from a fermentation medium or from any other source previously cleared of solid substances and/or of biomass that may be present and ionic substances, characterised in that it comprises the two following steps: a. Concentration of the lactic acid solution until a concentration of between 85 and 95% is reached, preferably of between 90 and 95%, i.e. between 15 and 5% free water or preferably between 10 and 5% free water; b. Distillation in a multi-stage column comprising three areas and allowing the separation, in a single step, of the lactic acid, volatile compounds and the heaviest impurities.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for purifying an aqueous lactic acid solution, obtained from a fermentation medium or from any other source previously cleared of solid substances and/or of biomass that may be present and ionic substances, characterised in that it comprises the two following steps: a. Concentration of the lactic acid solution until a concentration of between 85 and 95% is reached, preferably of between 90 and 95%, i.e. between 15 and 5% free water or preferably between 10 and 5% free water; b. Distillation in a multi-stage column comprising three areas and allowing the separation, in a single step, of the lactic acid, volatile compounds and the heaviest impurities.

Abstract: Process for increasingly producing D-Lactide and meso lactide by depolymerizing by back biting polylactide (PLA) said process which comprises: (i) Depolymerizing polylactide into its corresponding dimeric cyclic esters by heating the polylactide in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a catalyst and a co-catalyst in a reaction zone at temperature and pressure at which the polylactide is molten; (ii) Forming a vapor product stream from the reaction zone; (iii) Removing the vapor product stream and optionally condense it; (iv) Recovering, either together or separately meso-lactide, D-lactide and L-lactide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for purification of a stream containing a cyclic ester of an alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acid of formula (I), wherein each R independently represents hydrogen or an aliphatic hydrocarbon having 1 to 6 carbon atoms comprising the steps of: (a) separating the cyclic ester-containing stream into one or more cyclic ester-containing vapor fractions and one or more cyclic ester-containing liquid fractions; (b) condensing a cyclic ester-containing vaporized fraction as obtained in step (a) to obtain a cyclic ester-containing condensate; (c) subjecting at least part of the cyclic ester-containing condensate as obtained in step (b) to melt crystallization to obtain a purified cyclic ester-containing stream and a residue stream; and (d) recovering the purified cyclic ester-containing stream as obtained in step (c). The invention further relates to an apparatus suitable for carrying out the present process.

Abstract: Process for increasingly producing D-Lactide and meso lactide by depolymerizing by back biting polylactide (PLA) said process which comprises: (i) Depolymerizing polylactide into its corresponding dimeric cyclic esters by heating the polylactide in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a catalyst and a co-catalyst in a reaction zone at temperature and pressure at which the polylactide is molten; (ii) Forming a vapor product stream from the reaction zone; (iii) Removing the vapor product stream and optionally condense it; (iv) Recovering, either together or separately meso-lactide, D-lactide and L-lactide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing polylactide-based articles by rotational molding and also to the articles obtained by the method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for producing polylactide where the goal is to recover a maximum of useful matters in order to recycle without loss and so significantly improving the global yield of the production process of polylactide when starting from lactic acid.

Abstract: A process for the recovery and production of meso-lactide from a crude lactide containing stream may include subjecting a starting crude lactide stream to a first distillation step to obtain: a top stream mainly containing meso-lactide; a bottom stream; and a side stream mainly containing L-lactide and meso-lactide. The process may include recovering the side stream and subjecting the side stream to a melt crystallization step to obtain: a first purified stream mainly containing L-lactide; and a drain stream mainly containing meso-lactide and L-lactide. The process may include recovering the top stream and drain stream, and subjecting the top stream and drain stream to a second distillation step to obtain a second purified stream containing L-lactide and meso-lactide.

Abstract: The process of obtaining a polylactide-urethane copolymer is described which includes contacting an ?, ? dihydroxyl polylactide prepolymer of general formula I wherein X is NH or O, R is an alkyl or an aryl group, n and n? are integer numbers which are substantially the same and are in the range from 20 to 140, with a diisocyanate compound of general formula II O?C?N—R?—N?C?O wherein R? is an alkyl or an aryl group and with an amine or an alcohol of general formula III R?X?]2 wherein R? is an alkyl or an aryl group and X? is NH2 or OH, and with the proviso that at least one of R or R? is an aryl group.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for purification of a stream containing a cyclic ester of an alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acid of formula (I), wherein each R independently represents hydrogen or an aliphatic hydrocarbon having 1 to 6 carbon atoms comprising the steps of: (a) separating the cyclic ester-containing stream into one or more cyclic ester-containing vapour fractions and one or more cyclic ester-containing liquid fractions; (b) condensing a cyclic ester-containing vaporized fraction as obtained in step (a) to obtain a cyclic ester-containing condensate; (c) subjecting at least part of the cyclic ester-containing condensate as obtained in step (b) to melt crystallization to obtain a purified cyclic ester-containing stream and a residue stream; and (d) recovering the purified cyclic ester-containing stream as obtained in step (c). The invention further relates to an apparatus suitable for carrying out the present process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer composition comprising polylactide and, based on the weight of this polymer, from 17 to 25 wt % of a chain modifier, from 30 to 55 wt % of an elastomeric polymer and from 20 to 45 wt % of a plasticizer. The invention also relates to the method of preparing said composition as well as to the method of manufacturing an article starting from said composition and the article per se.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer composition comprising polylactide and, based on the weight of this polymer, from 17 to 25 wt % of a chain modifier, from 30 to 55 wt % of an elastomeric polymer and from 20 to 45 wt % of a plasticizer. The invention also relates to the method of preparing said composition as well as to the method of manufacturing an article starting from said composition and the article per se.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer composition comprising polylactide and, based on the weight of this polymer, from 17 to 25 wt % of a chain modifier, from 30 to 55 wt % of an elastomeric polymer and from 20 to 45 wt % of a plasticizer. The invention also relates to the method of preparing said composition as well as to the method of manufacturing an article starting from said composition and the article per se.

Abstract: Process for bulk polymerization of lactide at a temperature between 160° C. and 195° C. in the presence of a zinc-based catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the stereospecific chemical recycling of a mixture of polymers based on polylactic acid PLA, in order to reform the monomer thereof or one of the derivatives thereof. The latter may enter the traditional lactate market or once again serve as a raw material for synthesizing PLA.

Abstract: Processes for producing lactide from lactic acid oligomers are described herein. The processes generally include heating a lactic acid oligomer in the presence of a catalyst at a temperature of between 150° C. and 300° C. under a pressure of less than 0.01 MPa to form a lactide; distilling the lactide; and condensing and recovering the lactide, wherein the catalyst is a metal salt of the phosphite anion PO33? in which the metal is selected from the group consisting of tin, aluminum, zinc, titanium and zirconium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing polylactide-based articles by rotational moulding and also to the articles obtained by the method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer composition comprising polylactide and, based on the weight of this polymer, from 17 to 25 wt% of a chain modifier, from 30 to 55 wt% of an elastomeric polymer and from 20 to 45 wt% of a plasticizer. The invention also relates to the method of preparing said composition as well as to the method of manufacturing an article starting from said composition and the article per se.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of obtaining lactide by means of a solvent of the ether class from a mixture that is in liquid form comprising lactide, meso-lactide, and other impurities.