Poly(lactic acid) porous materials fabricated by phase separation techniques: Processing-structure-application relationship

ABSTRACT Porous materials based on poly(lactic acid) (PLA) combine intrinsic biodegradability and renewability together with the characteristic attributes of porous architectures. Their lightness, coupled with precise control over microstructural parameters, enables the tailoring of their properties for specific requirements. Consequently, these materials are suitable for a wide range of applications, including biomedical scaffolds, oil-water separation processes, thermal insulation, and energy management systems. Among the diverse fabrication routes, phase separation techniques stand out as versatile approaches capable of producing highly porous PLA materials with controlled morphology and functionality. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the principal phase separation methodologies applied to PLA, with particular emphasis on thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) and non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS). The influence of key parameters, including solvent system, cooling rate, and polymer concentration on the resulting microstructure is analyzed in detail, together with the role of subsequent drying techniques such as freeze-drying and supercritical CO 2 drying. Thus, the review summarizes the main applications of PLA-based porous materials in areas such as biomedicine, spill remediation, and energy savings, and the relationship between the processing technology, porous structure, and potential application is thoroughly analyzed. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives of these materials are discussed, focusing on their scalability, long-term stability, and the transition toward greener solvent systems. Overall, phase separation emerges as a highly promising route for developing next-generation bio-based porous materials with broad scientific and technological potential.