Size Effects of the Crystallite of ZSM-5 Zeolites on the Direct Catalytic Conversion of L-Lactic Acid to L, L-Lactide

ZSM-5 zeolites are commonly used as a heterogeneous catalyst for reactions. Four ZSM-5 catalysts (with various crystallite sizes and a similar ratio of Si/Al) and their ball-milling/surface-poisoning derivates were used to convert L-lactic acid to L, L-lactide. The reaction products were analyzed by three independent analytical methods (i.e., Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H-1 NMR), high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), and chiral gas chromatography (GC)) for determining the L, L-lactide yield and L-lactic acid conversion. A clear size effect, i.e., smaller catalysts providing better performance, was observed. Further ball-milling/surface-poisoning experiments suggested that the size effect of the ZSM-5 catalysts originated from the diffusion-controlled nature of the reaction under the investigated conditions.