Polylactic acid: Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polylactic_acid
This website provides an excellent overview of PLA as a polymer, its properties, and manufacture.
Biotech route to PLA
http://nexant.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0255‐130/Biotech‐Route‐to‐Lactic‐Acid.html
This web article describes the production of lactic acid from biomass by microbial fermentation coupled to a polymerization process to make PLA. The article is a bit dated and its industrial projections are now seen to be a bit over‐optimistic.
NatureWorks LLC
http://www.natureworksllc.com/
NatureWorks is the company that started large‐scale production of PLA via microbial biomass conversion several years ago. They are currently seeking to expand the market for uses of PLA.
Lamentations on chemistry: PLA
http://gaussling.wordpress.com/2006/12/20/polylactic‐acid‐pla‐a‐polydisperse‐trail‐of‐tears/
This web blog contains an interesting commentary on the chemistry of PLA production and the business side; including the pitfalls of involvement by a young chemist.
PLA products list
http://www.ides.com/generics/PLA/PLA_products.htm
This webpage highlights commercial products made out of PLA.
Polylactic acid: Plastic Wiki
http://plastics.inwiki.org/Polylactic_acid
This webpage focuses on the polymerization of lactic acid and the resultant properties of the polymeric products.
Composting PLA
http://agproducts.unl.edu/compost.htm
This web article describes a research study on composting PLA. PLA has been touted for its much greater biodegradability than comparable petroleum‐based polymers such as polyethylene.
Extracellular PLA depolymerase
http://jb.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/187/21/7333
This article describes a PLA‐degrading bacterium. It focuses on an extracellular enzyme from the bacterium that hydrolytically cleaves linkages in PLA.
UniProt: PLA depolymerase from metagenome
http://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/A4UZ13
This webpage provides the protein sequence of a putative PLA depolymerase that is encoded by DNA from a metagenome sample.
Lactic acid: Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactic_acid
Lactic acid is the precursor to PLA. It is widely used in foods and, increasingly, in polymer manufacture. It derives largely from industrial‐scale microbial fermentations.
Hycail
http://www.hycail.com/
Hycail is a company making and marketing PLA and PLA products.
Chemistry to make PLA
http://www.chem.mtu.edu/~whanbing/NewBubbleWrap.htm
This website provides an excellent primer on the PLA polymerization process.
Large‐scale fermentation for PLA
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa5350/is_200301/ai_n21325258/pg_4?tag=artBody;col1
This web article uses the PLA process as an example of large industrial fermentations.
Faerch Plast: PLA
http://www.faerchplast.com/pla.asp
This website contains some nice illustrations on how PLA is extruded or made into foils for use in consumer products.
EPA Green Chemistry: PLA
http://epa.gov/greenchemistry/pubs/pgcc/winners/grca02.html
The development of PLA production from biomass won several awards including the EPA's Greener Reaction Conditions Award. This webpage discussed the importance of the PLA process.