Hydrolysis of Polylactic Acid Fiber by Lipase from Porcine pancreas

Abstract

This study is to optimize the enzymatic processing conditions of Polylactic Acid (PLA) fiber using lipase from Porcine pancreas as an environmental technology. Hydrolytic activity dependent on pH, temperature, enzyme concentration, and treatment time, and structural change of PLA fiber were evaluated. The PLA fiber hydrolysis by lipase was maximized at 50% (o.w.f) lipase concentration 50°C for 120 minutes under pH 8.5. There was a change of the protein absorbance in the treatment solution before and after the lipase treatment. In addition, there was no substantial change in the molecular and crystalline structures of PLA by lipase treatment as confirmed by DSC, XRD, and FT-IR.