The BioPla project studies the production of bioplastics based on polylactic acid (PLA) from rice straw. The project studies the possible hydrolytic pretreatments of rice straw and its subsequent fermentation, to carry out its conversion into lactic acid. In addition, the polymerization of this lactic acid into PLA is studied.
La imagen A representa el fermentador con controlador acoplado. Desde allí se bombea automáticamente el ácido, la base y el antiespumante para mantener las condiciones del medio igual durante todo el proceso y favorecer la producción de ácido láctico. En las imágenes B y C se puede ver el medio con el cultivo.
Period of execution: June 2022 - August 2024
Partners: SAV, AIMPLAS, VIROMII
PLA represents approximately 40% of all biodegradable polymers and is the most widely used bioplastic on the market, with demand growing every year. This type of material is, in fact, a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics due to its ease of decomposition and lower environmental impact.
The project not only involves the development and validation of the treatment to manufacture this product with high added value and multiple industrial applications, but also all the logistics necessary for its collection and storage. In short, it is about demonstrating the technical, economic and environmental viability of the technology on a semi-industrial scale.
