Study on the Synthesis of Ethyl Lactate by Strong Acid Ion Exchange Resin

Ethanol and lactic acid as raw materials,strong acid cation exchange resin as catalyst,intermittent synthesis reactions of ethyl lactate was studied without separating products from system.The effects of the kinds of strong acidic ion resin,the quantity of resin,acid/alcohol ratio and Cat./acid ratio on lactic acid conversion rate were examined.The optimal conditions for lactic acid conversion rate were showed as follows: reaction remperature was the boiling point of the mixture liqour.acid/alcohol ratio was 1∶4,Cat./acid ratio was 10%,reactive time was 180 min,and the conversion per passactic acid conversion rate is 72.53%.The strong acidic cation resin can be used repeatedly as catalyst.