Synthesis of lactide from lactic acid and its esters in the presence of rare-earth compounds

Abstract

A procedure is described for the synthesis of lactide by dehydration of L-lactic acid and subsequent depolymerization of its oligomer mixture in the presence of yttrium(III) and praseodymium(III) oxides, as well as of cerium(III) chloride heptahydrate. The catalytic activity of yttrium and praseodymium sesquioxides was determined at different temperatures at the oligomerization and deoligomerization stages. Ethyl lactate was prepared in the presence of Purolite C100 MB cation exchange resin and subjected to oligomerization followed by thermal decomposition of oligoester and oligolactic acid mixture in the presence of yttrium(III) and praseodymium(III) oxides and aqueous cerium(III) chloride.