Method for preparing alkyl lactate and a method for preparing lactamide using the same

A method for preparing lactate compound of the following Chemical Formula 1, comprising the step of reacting glycerol with alcohol of the following Chemical Formula 2 in the presence of a catalyst,

• wherein the catalyst is a homogeneous or heterogeneous catalyst,
• wherein the homogeneous catalyst is at least one selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal compound having a hydroxyl or alkoxy group, a bicarbonate (HCO3−)-containing metal compound, and a carbonate (CO32−)-containing metal compound, and
• wherein the heterogeneous catalyst is a metal compound containing Mg, Ca, Zr, Sn or Ti:
• wherein, R1 is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-10 alkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted C3-10 cycloalkyl, a substituted or unsubstituted C6-10 aryl, a substituted or unsubstituted C3-10 alkylene, a substituted or unsubstituted C3-10 cycloalkylene, or a substituted or unsubstituted C6-10 arylene.