ReviewPolymers2026
Research Progress in the Preparation of Lactide.
Review in Polymers, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
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Abstract
Driven by the growing demand for sustainable polymers, polylactic acid (PLA) has attracted increasing attention due to its renewable origin and biodegradability. Lactide, the key cyclic monomer for PLA production via ring-opening polymerization (ROP), plays a decisive role in determining the molecular weight, stereoregularity, and final performance of PLA materials. However, current lactide synthesis processes still face significant challenges, including competing side reactions under high-temperature and high-vacuum conditions, difficulties in controlling stereochemical purity, and relatively high energy consumption. In this review, recent advances in lactide synthesis are systematically analyzed by examining the two principal industrial routes: the one-step process based on the direct dehydration-cyclization of lactic acid (LA), and the two-step process involving prepolymerization of LA followed by depolymerization/cyclization of oligomeric intermediates. The reaction mechanisms, key intermediates, and major side reactions-including racemization, transesterification, and deep polycondensation-are discussed, together with the regulatory roles of catalytic systems and reaction-separation coupling strategies. Comparative analysis reveals that the one-step route offers advantages in process integration and potential energy efficiency, whereas the two-step route provides superior control over stereochemical purity and process stability. Future research directions focusing on green catalysts, process intensification, and sustainable lactide production are also highlighted.
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