Conversion of Glycerin into Lactic Acid by Alkaline Hydrothermal Reaction

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Abstract
Hydrothermal decomposition experiments of glycerin with an alkali showed that glycerin could be converted into lactic acid with a high yield of about 90 mol % based on glycerin used. Discussion on the pathway for the conversion of glycerin to lactic acid suggests that glycerin is first decomposed to pyruvaldehyde with elimination of hydrogen by a H− shift to the adjacent hydrogen. Pyruvaldehyde formed is then converted into lactic acid ion by the benzilic acid rearrangement.