Attempts to manufacture gentically modified silk have thusfar been disappointing due to low yields. If this can be improved, silk can be applied to many applications. Chitin, a polysaccharide found in the exoskeletons of insects and shellfish, possesses many desirable characteristics. This accounts for the research that is trying to use chitosan in drug delivery systems. Lactic acid is produced by the microbial fermentation of sugars such as glucose or hexose.
Feedstocks can include potato skins and corn.
The lactic acid monomers can be used to create low or high molecular weight polylactide polymers. PLA commodity polymers are being developed for use as pulping additives in paper manufacturing and as biodegradable packing materials. For Your Information ChE in Everyday Life ChE in Medicine Alternative Energy Proc. This site is maintained by Christopher M. A. Haslego,BSChE, an Alumnus of West Virginia University.