Horticultural Uses of Polylactic Acid
Project Description:
PLA is a biodegradable plastic polymer that can be derived from corn and is known to lose all mechanical
properties when composted for five weeks. The horticulture industry is one of several possible target areas for marketing PLA. As participants in a "green" industry, horticulturists are particularly interested in a competitive biodegrable or compostable material to use as planting containers, packages, etc. The horticulture industry uses millions of pounds of polystyrene and other plastics each year to produce small disposable bedding plant containers, as well as flats and pots for producing and merchandising plants. Plastics also are used to cover green houses and plants, to make mulches for controlling weeds and foams to arrange, merchandise and display and display cut flowers. Information regarding the physical properties of PLA is available, but little is known regarding its durability in the plant production environment. For example, information on PLA interaction with pesticides used in greenhouse environments is sparse.
Objectives:
The objectives of this research are to:
- Commercially manufacture six-pack bedding plant containers
- Study their performance in a greenhouse environment
- Evaluate their biodegradability
Procedures:
Activities during year one will concentrate on production of 6-pack bedding plant containers and
preliminary greenhouse studies:
- PLA will be extruded into black colored sheets, from which six-pack bedding plant containers will be manufactured.
- Activities during year two will concentrate on replicating greenhouse studies.
- Three types of plants will be grown in the PLA, as well as in convention bedding plant containers, in a greenhouse at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The plants will be annual and perennial flowers and tomato plants. About 200 bedding plant containers will be planted. Normal fertilizer, pesticide, water and light applications will be used.
- Plant growth will be monitored periodically throughout an eight week growing cycle. Crushing strength of the containers will be measured at the beginning and end of the growing cycle. If unexpected deterioration of the containers is observed, intermediate sampling and testing will be sent to an independent chemical lab to determine pesticide absorbance. Containers also will be degraded in a compost pile, to determine if their biogradability was
affected.
Project Location: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA.
Technology Transfer:
The information will be disseminated through peer reviewed publications and press releases. Comercialization of PLA in planter applications will be explored initially with previously cited industry collaborators.
Potential Impact:
The potential impact on the corn market is tremendous. It is estimated that the United States market uses over 42 million pounds of plastic per year--potentially 1.7 million bushels of corn per year could be used to make plastic products. This project would benefit Nebraska corn producers to the degree that PLA-based plastics are shown to provide a suitable, biogradable plastic for the horticultural industry.
PLA Research
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For further information, contact the University of Nebraska-Lincoln,
Industrial Agricultural Products Center, 208 L.W. Chase Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0730.
Telephone call: 1-402-472-1634; Fax: 1-402-472-6338