Compositions containing poly(lactic acid), bacteriocin(s), plasticizers(s), and optionally pore forming agent(s), and methods or making

US8268905B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture · US

Inventors

• LinShu Liu · Sunnyvale, US
• David R. Coffin · Richmond, US
• Kevin B. Hicks · Malvern, US
• Zhonglin T. Jin · Columbus, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 14, 2009
• Grant date: Sep 18, 2012
• Expiry date: Jul 9, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C08L89/00
• WIPO field: Macromolecular chemistry, polymers
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A composition containing poly(lactic acid), at least one bacteriocin (e.g., nisin, generally in the form of Nisaplin®), and at least one plasticizer (e.g., lactic acid, lactide, triacetin, glycerol triacetate), and optionally at least one pore forming agent. A method of making the composition, involving mixing about 100% of the total of the poly(lactic acid), about 50% to about 90% of the total of the at least one plasticizer, and optionally at least one pore forming agent at a first temperature of about 150° to about 170° C. to form a mixture, cooling the mixture to a second temperature of about 115° to about 125° C., adding at least one bacteriocin and about 10% to about 50% of the total of the at least one plasticizer and the remainder of the total of the poly(lactic acid) to the mixture and mixing to form the composition.