Abstract:

 As the simplest fully biodegradable plastic with excellent mechanical properties, poly (glycolic acid) (PGA) can be widely used in fields such as healthcare, oil fields and packaging. This article summarizes the characteristics and applications of poly (glycolic acid), and provides a detailed introduction to main production technologies such as one-step method (direct polymerization) and two-step method (ring opening polymerization), especially the synthesis and purification technologies of the key monomer glycolide. The process route of producing poly (glycolic acid) from coal via synthesis gas is explored, and the future direction of industrial development of poly (glycolic acid) is summarized, providing reference for its large-scale industrial application.

Key words: poly (glycolic acid), PGA, glycolide, production technology