Kinetics of Esterification of Ammonium Lactate with n-Butanol.

The kinetics of butyl lactate production by the interaction of ammonium lactate with n-butanol in the presence of water in the temperature range of 130–170°C in a closed system was studied for the first time as one of the stages of a new integrated technology for the production of lactic acid and polylactide. Also for the first time, a reaction scheme and kinetic model of ammonium lactate esterification with n-butanol were proposed, taking into account the side formation of lactamide and the acid catalysis of esterification by lactic acid. The developed kinetic model can be used for mathematical modeling of a reactor for the synthesis of butyl lactate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]