Synthesis of butyl lactate catalyzed byp otassium bisulfate

Objective To study the catalytic activity of potassium bisulfate in synthesizing butyl lactate. Methods Lactic acid and butyl alcohol reacted to form butyl lactate by using potassium bisulfate as the catalyst. The investigated effects included amount of the catalyst, reaction time, molar ratio of alcohol to acid and repeated uses. Results The catalyst was lowcost, high activity and could be used repeatedly. Under the best conditions its yield could reach 92.5%. Conclusion Potassium bisulfate is an excellent catalyst for the synthesis of butyl lactate.