Catalytic Synthesis of n-Butyl Lactate with Ammonium Ferric Sulfate

The n butyl lactate was synthesied by the esterification of lactic acid and n butyl alcohol in presence of ammonium ferric sulfate dodecahydrate NH 4Fe(SO 4) 2·12H 2O,and the factor influencing on the yield of reaction were discussed.It showed that the ammonium ferric sulfate dodecahydrate was an excellent catalyst,the yield of the n butyl lactate could reach over 95.0% under molar ratio of n butyl alcohol and lactic acid 2.25∶1,the reaction temperature of 110～125℃,reaction time of 1.5 h and amount of the ammonium ferric sulfate dodecahydrate catalyst of 2.5%.