A cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment of wood fibre-reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) and polylactic acid/thermoplastic starch (PLA/TPS) biocomposites

Mahalle, Lal; Alemdar, Ayşe; Mihai, Mihaela; Legros, Nathalie

doi:10.1007/s11367-014-0731-4

Cited by 51 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…In another previous study that considers energy recovery in the end-of-life perspective, PLA film was best for environmental impact in the climate change categories among four materials: PLA/TPS/PLS, PLA, PET, and PP [4]. Additionally, the biocomposite film based on PLA, wood fiber, and thermoplastic starch (TPS) was more environmentally friendly than PP film in the global warming categories in the cradle-to-gate approach [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Carbon Footprint of Packaging Films Made from LDPE, PLA, and PLA/PBAT Blends in South Korea

2018

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Bio-plastics such as polylactic acid (PLA) have been investigated as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics. In this study, the carbon footprint of packaging films made from LDPE, PLA, and PLA/PBAT blends was measured with three different waste scenarios based on the database of South Korea using life cycle assessment (LCA). The LCA followed ISO standards, and was a cradle-to-grave analysis. The functional unit was defined as 400,000 pieces of a film of 300 × 250 mm with thickness of 0.06 mm for packaging bag manufacturing. The waste treatments considered were incineration, landfill, and recycling applied with the present conditions of South Korea. Under the present analysis conditions, the PLA film with landfill was the most effective for reducing carbon emission. The PLA/PBAT with incineration was the worst case among the packaging films tested. Incineration was the worst choice of waste treatment in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. Generally, landfill may not be the best option in terms of sustainability but landfill was a better option for waste treatment than incineration. In addition, before bio-plastics are blended with other material, the blending material should first be evaluated for its environmental impact. The blended bio-plastics with PLA, such as PLA/PBAT, can be more inimical to the environment in terms of carbon dioxide emissions than existing materials, such as LDPE.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Bio-plastics have been regarded as a sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics [1][2][3]. In particular, polylactic acid (PLA) is noted as the most promising material in the bio-plastic sector.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon Footprint of Packaging Films Made from LDPE, PLA, and PLA/PBAT Blends in South Korea

2018

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“…Currently, composites are produced from petroleum‐based materials and synthetic fibers. Utilization of bio‐based materials and natural fibers for composite production contributes to the production of a more environmentally friendly product . Lactic acid (LA), with versatile economical sources, is an interesting renewable candidate for substitution of conventional petroleum‐based materials which is used for production of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synthesis and characterization of methacrylated star‐shaped poly(lactic acid) employing core molecules with different hydroxyl groups

Esmaeili

Jahandideh

Muthukumarappan

et al. 2017

J of Applied Polymer Sci

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A set of novel bio-based star-shaped thermoset resins was synthesized via ring-opening polymerization of lactide and employing different multi-hydroxyl core molecules, including ethylene glycol, glycerol, and erythritol. The branches were endfunctionalized with methacrylic anhydride. The effect of the core molecule on the melt viscosity, the curing behavior of the thermosets and also, the thermomechanical properties of the cured resins were investigated. Resins were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, 13 C-NMR, and 1 H-NMR to confirm the chemical structure. Rheological analysis and differential scanning calorimetry analysis were performed to obtain the melt viscosity and the curing behavior of the studied star-shaped resins. Thermomechanical properties of the cured resins were also measured by dynamic mechanical analysis. The erythritol-based resin had superior thermomechanical properties compared to the other resins and also, lower melt viscosity compared to the glycerol-based resin. These are of desired characteristics for a resin, intended to be used as a matrix for the structural composites. Thermomechanical properties of the cured resins were also compared to a commercial unsaturated polyester resin and the experimental results indicated that erythritol-based resin with 82% bio-based content has superior thermomechanical properties, compared to the commercial polyester resin. Results of this study indicated that although core molecule with higher number of hydroxyl groups results in resins with better thermomechanical properties, number of hydroxyl groups is not the only governing factor for average molecular weight and melt viscosity of the uncured S-LA resins.

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“…[20,23]) and, therefore social acceptability and health concerns [24] would also need to be addressed. In comparison to solid wood, WPC reveals environmental burdens as the carbon dioxide impact of processing WPC is higher than of the processing solid wood [25][26][27]. Nonetheless, WPC is indicated to be an eco-friendly alternative in comparison to neat polymers, particularly when recycling materials and biopolymers are used [26,27].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In comparison to solid wood, WPC reveals environmental burdens as the carbon dioxide impact of processing WPC is higher than of the processing solid wood [25][26][27]. Nonetheless, WPC is indicated to be an eco-friendly alternative in comparison to neat polymers, particularly when recycling materials and biopolymers are used [26,27]. In case of biopolymers, their eco friendliness is still point of controversy discussions based on several life cycle assessment studies stating the effect on various impact categories or the lack of available data for new polymer materials [28,29].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Utilization of Recycled Material Sources for Wood-Polypropylene Composites: Effect on Internal Composite Structure, Particle Characteristics and Physico-Mechanical Properties

Krause

Sauerbier

Koddenberg

et al. 2018

Fibers

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In this study, various wood material sources were used for the manufacture of wood-polymer composites (WPC). The materials were categorised as virgin wood particles (VWP), reprocessed WPC particles (RWP) and recycled thermoset composite particles (RCP) and derived from two virgin wood sources, three-layer particleboards, medium-density fibreboards (MDF) boards, or two different wood/polypropylene composites. All produced wood-polypropylene compounds contained 60% wood material and were manufactured using a co-rotating extruder. Malleated polypropylene was used as a coupling agent. Specimens were injection moulded and subsequently tested for their physico-mechanical properties. To characterize particles before and after processing, dynamic image analysis (DIA) measurement were performed. Additionally, X-ray micro-computed tomography (XµCT) was used to characterize the internal structure of the composites and to verify the obtained particle’s characteristics. It was found that length and aspect ratio of particles were remarkably different before and after processing (loss in length of 15–70% and aspect ratio of 10–40%). Moreover, there were notably differences between the particle sources (RCP retained the highest length and aspect ratio values, followed by VWP and RWP). The results suggest that increased aspect ratios can indeed significantly improve mechanical properties (up to 300% increase in impact bending strength and 75% increase in tensile strength, comparing WPC based either on virgin spruce or MDF material). This phenomenon is suggested to be partially superimposed by improved dispersion of particles, which is expected due to lower variance and increased mechanical properties of RWP composites. However, no notable alterations were observed for composite density. Reprocessed WPC and, particularly, RCP material have proved to be an appealing raw material substitute for the manufacturing of wood–polymer composites.

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A cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment of wood fibre-reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) and polylactic acid/thermoplastic starch (PLA/TPS) biocomposites

Cited by 51 publications

References 6 publications

Carbon Footprint of Packaging Films Made from LDPE, PLA, and PLA/PBAT Blends in South Korea

Carbon Footprint of Packaging Films Made from LDPE, PLA, and PLA/PBAT Blends in South Korea

Synthesis and characterization of methacrylated star‐shaped poly(lactic acid) employing core molecules with different hydroxyl groups

Utilization of Recycled Material Sources for Wood-Polypropylene Composites: Effect on Internal Composite Structure, Particle Characteristics and Physico-Mechanical Properties

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