Biodegradable polymers agriculture uses

Polylactic acid is a biodegradable polymer. It can be made from lactic acid, which can be produced by fermentation of glucose. Because it is biodegradable and can be manufactured from agricultural products, polylactic acid is potentially a renewable material. US 6,326,458 assigned to Cargill Inc. describes a process for making polylactic acid from lactic acid. Estimate the cost of production of the purified polymer. 

The above discussion allows us to conclude that the bioassimilation of synthetic carbon-chain polymers has much in common with that of their natural analogues (notably natural rubber, resins and lignin). In all cases, nature uses abiotic oxidation chemistry together with biotic chemistry, very often together. The degradation products formed by oxo-biodegradation are of benefit to the agricultural environment as biomass and ultimately in the form of humus. 

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