Biodegradable Plastic Pellets (PLA Based)

Project cost & finance

Raw materials & machinery

Manufacturing process

1. Procurement, cleaning, and drying of agricultural raw materials followed by crushing or grinding in a hammer or pulping mill.
2. Conversion of starch and sugar from the crops into simple glucose via enzymatic or acidic hydrolysis.
3. Fermentation of glucose to lactic acid inside temperature and pH controlled aerobic fermentation tanks.
4. Purification of the resulting lactic acid through esterification, distillation, and subsequent hydrolysis.
5. Polycondensation of purified lactic acid into oligo-lactic acid and then lactide through thermal cycling reactions.
6. Conversion of lactide to Polylactic Acid (PLA) in a series of loop and plug-flow reactors.
7. Degassing of the PLA melt to remove volatile components, followed by mixing with plasticizers, binders, and additives in a static mixer.
8. Pelletizing the PLA melt using an underwater pelletizer, cooling, quality testing, and packing into bags for storage.

Market

The global biodegradable plastics market is expanding rapidly as governments prohibit single-use plastics and consumer awareness regarding environmental sustainability rises. Key end-use sectors include packaging, agriculture (mulch films), and biomedical devices.

From the project report