Selective Catalysis of Lactic Acid to Produce Commodity Chemicals

Owning to its biobased organic acid, low cost and multiple reactive functionalities as it contains both one carboxylic acid group and hydroxyl group, lactic acid has been described as a commodity chemical sleeping giant. In this review, the conversion of lactic acid to other important commodity chemicals, such as, poly L‐lactic acid, acrylic acid, 2, 3‐pentanedione, pyruvic acid, propanoic acid, 1, 2‐propanediol, acetaldehyde, ethyl lactate, using chemical or biological catalysts, and the economy analysis of conversions are depicted. The conversion would provide a new way for the solution of the present oil crisis.