# US 9,040,739 B2 · Catalyst and method for synthesis of lactic acid and its derivatives > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,040,739 B2 - Document ID: US9040739B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/596,043 - Filed: 2012-08-27 - Published: 2013-12-19 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2012-06-18 - Assignees: Microvast Power Systems Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Xiaoping Zhou; Rui Bi - Inventors: Xiaoping Zhou; Rui Bi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9040739B2 ## CPC - B01J 23/14: of germanium, tin or lead - B01J 27/135: with titanium, zirconium, hafnium, germanium, tin or lead - B01J 31/02: containing organic compounds or metal hydrides - B01J 31/0239: {Quaternary ammonium compounds} - B01J 31/226: {Sulfur, e.g. thiocarbamates} - B01J 31/26: containing in addition, inorganic metal compounds not provided for in groups B01J31/02 - B01J31/24 - C07C 51/00: Preparation of carboxylic acids or their salts, halides or anhydrides (of acids by hydrolysis of oils, fats or waxes C11C) - C07C 51/09: from carboxylic acid esters or lactones - C07C 59/08: Lactic acid - C07C 67/00: Preparation of carboxylic acid esters - B01J 2231/70: Oxidation reactions, e.g. epoxidation, (di)hydroxylation, dehydrogenation and analogues - B01J 2531/42: Tin - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - C07C: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS ## Abstract A catalyst for synthesis of lactic acid and it derivatives is provided. The catalyst includes SnY2.mH2O and at least one of NH4X or quaternary ammonium salts, wherein X and Y are selected from F—, Cl—, Br—, I—, CH3SO3—, C6H5SO3—, CH3C6H4SO3— or CN—, m represents an integer of 1 to 15. A method for synthesis of lactic acid and it derivatives with the above catalyst is also provided. By using the above catalyst and method, it is capable of converting carbohydrate-containing raw material to lactic acid and its derivatives directly in a more efficient and economical way. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A catalyst for synthesis of lactic acid and its derivatives, comprising: SnY2.mH2O and at least one of NH4X or quaternary ammonium salts, wherein X and Y are selected from F−, Cl−, Br−, I−, CH3SO3−, C6H5SO3−, CH3C6H4SO3− or CN−, m represents an integer of 1 to 15, and the mass ratio of the at least one of NH4X or quaternary ammonium salts to the SnY2.mH2O is in a range from 1:2 to 5:2. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The catalyst for synthesis of lactic acid and its derivatives of claim 1, wherein the cation of the quaternary ammonium salts has a general formula of (NR1R2R3R4)+, in which, the R1, R2, R3, and R4 are alkyl groups with formula of CnH2n+1, wherein n represents an integer of 1 to 30. ### Claim 3 A method for synthesis of lactic acid and its derivatives, comprising: providing a mixture, comprising: at least one carbohydrate-containing raw material, at least one alcohol, at least one catalyst, and at least one solvent, wherein the catalyst comprising SnY2.mH2O and at least one of NH4X or quaternary ammonium salts, wherein X and Y are selected from F−, Cl−, Br−, I−, CH3SO3−, C6H5SO3−CH3C6H4SO3−or CN−, m represents an integer of 1 to 15,and the mass ratio of the at least one of NH4X or quaternary ammonium salts to the SnY2.mH2O is in a range from 1:2 to 5:2; and heating the mixture to obtain lactic acid and its derivatives. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method for synthesis of lactic acid and its derivatives of claim 3, wherein the alcohol is selected from the group consisting of monohydroxyl alcohols, dihydroxyl alcohols, and trihydroxyl alcohols. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method for synthesis of lactic acid and its derivatives of claim 4, wherein the alcohol is a monohydroxyl alcohol, and the monohydroxyl alcohol is selected from a group consisting of methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, and tert-butanol. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method for synthesis of lactic acid and its derivatives of claim 4, wherein the alcohol is a dihydroxyl alcohol, and the dihydroxyl alcohol is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, 1, 2-propandiol, and 1, 3-propandiol. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The method for synthesis of lactic acid and its derivatives of claim 4, wherein the alcohol is trihydroxyl alcohol, and the trihydroxyl alcohol is glycerol. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The method for synthesis of lactic acid and its derivatives of claim 3, wherein the mass ratio of the at least one alcohol to the at least one carbohydrate-containing raw material is greater than 1. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method for synthesis of lactic acid and its derivatives of claim 8, wherein the mass ratio of the at least one alcohol to the at least one carbohydrate-containing raw material is greater than 3:2. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The method for synthesis of lactic acid and its derivatives of claim 3, wherein the at least one solvent is a polar solvent. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method for synthesis of lactic acid and its derivatives of claim 10, wherein the polar solvent is selected from a group consisting of water, alcohols, the methyl esters of C8 to C22 fatty acids, or mixtures thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The method for synthesis of lactic acid and its derivatives of claim 3, wherein a reaction temperature of the heating step is between 25 and 200° C. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method for synthesis of lactic acid and its derivatives of claim 12, wherein the reaction temperature of the heating step is between 25 and 180° C. ### Claim 14 (depends on 3) The method for synthesis of lactic acid and its derivatives of claim 3, wherein the at least one carbohydrate-containing raw material comprises cellulose and the reaction temperature of the heating step is between 80 and 180° C. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method for synthesis of lactic acid and its derivatives of claim 14, wherein the reaction temperature of the heating step is between 100 and 180° C. ### Claim 16 (depends on 3) The method for synthesis of lactic acid and its derivatives of claim 3, wherein the at least one carbohydrate-containing raw material comprises starch and the reaction temperature of the heating step is between 80 and 180° C. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method for synthesis of lactic acid and its derivatives of claim 14, wherein the reaction temperature of the heating step is between 80 and 160° C. ### Claim 18 (depends on 3) The method for synthesis of lactic acid and its derivatives of claim 3, wherein the at least one carbohydrate-containing raw material comprises sucrose or glucose and the reaction temperature of the heating step is between 25 and 180° C. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method for synthesis of lactic acid and its derivatives of claim 18, wherein the reaction temperature of the heating step is between 25 and 140° C.