Conversion of glycerin into lactic acid by alkaline hydrothermal reaction

Hydrothermal decomposition experiments of glycerin with an alkali showed that glycerin could be converted into lactic acid with a high yield of about 90 mol % based on glycerin used. Discussion on the pathway for the conversion of glycerin to lactic acid suggests that glycerin is first decomposed to pyruvaldehyde with elimination of hydrogen by a H- shift to the adjacent hydrogen. Pyruvaldehyde formed is then converted into lactic acid ion by the benzilic acid rearrangement.