QUANTIFICATION OF LACTIDE AMOUNTS IN A POLYMERIC MATRIX

• US 20150168295A1
• Filed: 06/07/2013
• Published: 06/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Purac Biochem BV (Corbion NV)
• Original Assignee: Purac Biochem BV (Corbion NV)
• Inventors: Gobius Du Sart, Gerrit, De Jong, Vincent, Niessen, Jan Arie
• Granted Patent: US 10,578,549 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 63/08 Lactones or lactides
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 67/04 Polyesters derived from hydroxycarboxylic acids, e.g. lactones C08L67/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/8411 Application to online plant, process monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/8416 and process controlling, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3563 for analysing solids; Preparation of samples therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3577 for analysing liquids, e.g. polluted water
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/359 using near infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/061 Sources
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0826 Fibre array at source, distributing

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for quantification of the amount of lactide in a lactide-based polymeric matrix by means of Infra Red Spectroscopy measurement. According to the invention the quantification is based on measurements performed on absorptions in the near Infra Red region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The invented method allows a rapid, easy and cheap quantification of lactide in a polymeric matrix, especially in PLA.

Claims

1. Method for quantification of the amount of lactide in a lactide-based polymeric matrix by means of Infra Red Spectroscopy measurements, wherein the quantification is based on measurements performed on absorptions in the near Infra Red region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric matrix comprises PLA.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the polymeric matrix essentially consists of PLA.

4. Method according to claim 2, wherein the PLA has a M_n of at least 10.000 kg/mol.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the amount of lactide is measured in the final polymerization product of the polymeric matrix.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the amount of lactide is measured in a polymerization process in which lactide is polymerized into a lactide based polymeric matrix.

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein the polymerization process is a batch process.

8. Method according to claim 6, wherein the polymerization process is a continuous process.

9. Method according to claim 8 wherein the amount of lactide is measured simultaneously at different stages of the polymerization process.