Method and facility for producing polylactide (pla) from a lactide mixture by means of polymerization

A process for producing polylactide (PLA) from a lactide mixture by polymerization, wherein the lactide mixture to be processed is introduced into a planetary gear extruder, and mixed with at least one catalyst and the finished PLA is taken off at an end of the process, comprising:

• passing the lactide mixture continuously through a plurality of segments (35) of the planetary gear extruder (1) having a modular construction, wherein measurements and targeted control of the reactions proceeding in the planetary gear extruder (1) are carried out in the segments (35) such that a temperature can be set by heating and/or cooling as a function of temperature values to be tested via sensors for measuring the temperature values and a pressure can be variably set via a controllable offtake of gas and/or a controllable extruder speed and/or a static alterability of the planetary gears and/or an alterable metering rate of the lactide mixture and/or an alterable mixing ratio of the lactide mixture as a function of pressure values to be tested via sensors for measuring the pressure values,
• carrying out the offtake (6) of gas which presents a fire hazard at least in a subregion of the planetary gear extruder (1) in an explosion-protected zone (5),
• introducing the at least one catalyst (27) directly into the planetary gear extruder (1) during the rolling process, and
• introducing additives (26) for influencing the final properties directly into the planetary gear extruder during the rolling process.