Production Cost Report
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Polylactic Acid
Polylactic Acid
PLA
Polylactide
Polylactic Acid (a.k.a. PLA, Polylactide) is a thermoplastic aliphatic polyester. It is different than most thermoplastic in that it is a bioplastic, which means it is derived from a number of renewed biomass like starch and sugar cane via bacterial lactic fermentation. It is semi crystalline or amorphous, rigid, resilient and ultraviolet light resistant material, with similar characteristics to common petrochemical industry plastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene. Polylactic acid is used in plastic films, bottles and biodegradable medical devices. It figures among the most consumed bioplastics worldwide.
The uses and applications of Polylactic Acid may vary according to its specification. The main forms of Polylactic Acid are film grade (for food packing); and high-performance grades (PS, PP and ABS replacement).

Polylactic Acid Cost of Production | Q1 2024

Updated Reports Examining Polylactic Acid Manufacturing Costs

Intratec offers professional, easy-to-understand Commodity Cost of Production reports analyzing the costs of Polylactic Acid manufacturing processes. Each report describes an industrial plant based on a specific Polylactic Acid process. The report also presents an independent analysis of the costs of Polylactic Acid production, encompassing plant capital costs (capex) and plant operating costs (opex). All reports are based on the most recent economic data available (Q1 2024).

Polylactic Acid Production from Lactic Acid

This report presents the economics of Polylactic Acid (PLA) production from lactic acid using a melt process similar to the one proposed by NatureWorks. In this process, lactic acid is first oligomerized and then depolymerized into lactide, a cyclic dimer of lactic acid, which is then polymerized to yield PLA by ring opening polymerization. The economic analysis presented is based on a plant constructed in the USA.

Details: 140 kta United States-based plant   |   Q1 2024   |   106 pages   From $1,199 USD

The cost analyses presented in the report PLA E11A target a 140 kta (kilometric tons per annum) United States-based plant. For those interested in cost analyses considering other plant capacities and/or locations, Intratec offers a customized analysis as an optional feature.

Polylactic Acid Production from Glucose

This study approaches the economics of Polylactic Acid production from glucose syrup in the United States. First, lactic acid is produced from glucose syrup using a fermentation process similar to Cargill process. Then, lactic acid is polymerized into poly(lactic acid) using a melt-phase polymerization process similar to the one proposed by NatureWorks.

Details: 50 kta United States-based plant   |   Q1 2024   |   107 pages   From $1,199 USD

The cost analyses presented in the report PLA E21A target a 50 kta (kilometric tons per annum) United States-based plant. For those interested in cost analyses considering other plant capacities and/or locations, Intratec offers a customized analysis as an optional feature.

Polylactic Acid Production from Raw Sugar

This study approaches the economics of Polylactic Acid production from raw sugar in Germany. Initially, raw sugar is hydrolyzed into invert sugars. The invert sugars are then fermented to produce lactic acid, in a process similar to Cargill process. The lactic acid is oligomerized and then depolymerized into lactide, which is finally polymerized to yield PLA by ring opening polymerization, similar to the one proposed by NatureWorks.

Details: 140 kta Germany-based plant   |   Q1 2024   |   107 pages   From $1,199 USD

The cost analyses presented in the report PLA E31B target a 140 kta (kilometric tons per annum) Germany-based plant. For those interested in cost analyses considering other plant capacities and/or locations, Intratec offers a customized analysis as an optional feature.

Polylactic Acid Production from Corn

This study approaches the economics of Polylactic Acid production from corn in the United States. Initially, shelled corn is passed through a wet milling process to form corn starch, which is hydrolyzed to dextrose. Then, dextrose is fermented into lactic acid in a process similar to Cargill process. Finally, lactic acid is polymerized using a melt-phase polymerization process similar to the one proposed by NatureWorks.

Details: 140 kta United States-based plant   |   Q1 2024   |   108 pages   From $1,499 USD

The cost analyses presented in the report PLA E41A target a 140 kta (kilometric tons per annum) United States-based plant. For those interested in cost analyses considering other plant capacities and/or locations, Intratec offers a customized analysis as an optional feature.

Polylactic Acid Production from Lactide

This report approaches the economics of producing Polylactic Acid (PLA) from lactide in a plant located in the United States. In the process examined, lactide, a cyclic dimer of lactic acid, undergoes a ring opening polymerization in the presence of a stannous octoate catalyst to be converted into Polylactic Acid.

Details: 80 kta United States-based plant   |   Q1 2024   |   106 pages   From $799 USD

The cost analyses presented in the report PLA E51A target a 80 kta (kilometric tons per annum) United States-based plant. For those interested in cost analyses considering other plant capacities and/or locations, Intratec offers a customized analysis as an optional feature.

Could Not Find the Production Cost Report you Need?

If none of the Polylactic Acid reports listed above fits your needs, you can request a bespoke report examining the process you are interested in! You will have a report tailored to your needs, in which you defined production process, industrial plant capacity and location!

Details: Customer-defined Plant Location & Capacity  |   Q1 2024 From $2,900 USD

Use our Reports as

Feasibility Studies

Techno-economic Evaluations

Investment Analyses

Multi-regional Cost Analyses

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About Polylactic Acid. Polylactic Acid (a.k.a. PLA, Polylactide) is a thermoplastic aliphatic polyester. It is different than most thermoplastic in that it is a bioplastic, which means it is derived from a number of renewed biomass like starch and sugar cane via bacterial lactic fermentation. It is semi crystalline or amorphous, rigid, resilient and ultraviolet light resistant material, with similar characteristics to common petrochemical industry plastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene. Polylactic acid is used in plastic films, bottles and biodegradable medical devices. It figures among the most consumed bioplastics worldwide.

Polylactic Acid Uses. The uses and applications of Polylactic Acid may vary according to its specification. The main forms of Polylactic Acid are film grade (for food packing); and high-performance grades (PS,PP and ABS replacement).

Intratec Methodology. Intratec distilled its expertise, gained from more than a decade of supporting companies worldwide in the analysis of commodities markets and process economics, and developed a consistent report development methodology.

The methodology ensures a holistic, coherent, and consistent techno-economic evaluation, guiding the development of a report that allows readers to fully understand a specific process technology for the production of a commodity. In addition to being based on a common methodology, all Intratec reports that approach industrial processes have a common structure, i.e., indexes, tables and charts share similar standards. This ensures that Intratec’s readers know upfront what they will get and, more than that, will be able to compare technologies addressed in different reports.

Our methodology is continuously tested and proven by the many corporations involved with the commodities sector, R&D centers, EPC companies, financial institutions and government agencies that rely on our reports.

Check Intratec Methodology to better understand how Intratec develops Commodity Cost of Production Reports.