Abstract
The production of lactic acid has increased owing to growing polymer markets, increased demand in the chemical sector and many applications in the food industry. Biomass hydrothermal decomposition is potentially a method for lactic acid production. To obtain a higher yield of lactic acid, the influence of metal ions (Zn(II), Ni(II),Co(II) and Cr(III)) on biomass decomposition in sub‐critical water (T = 300 °C) was investigated and the catalyst function in the complex reaction network of biomass degradation was discussed. In comparison with a non‐catalytic process, the addition of 400 ppm Ni(II) catalyst increased the yield of lactic acid from 3.25% to 6.62% at 300 °C and 120 s for microcrystalline cellulose. The lactic acid yield for glucose was 9.51% for 400 ppm Co(II) catalyst at 300 °C and 120 s. In the case of Cr(III) and Ni(II), the conversion of maize straw, sawdust and rice husk first increased, and then decreased from 0 to 800 ppm. For catalyst Cr(III), Zn(II) and Ni(II), the conversion of wheat bran indicated a decreasing trend. Transition metal ions have a great influence on raw materials conversion to lactic acid. In the conversion of pyruvaldehyde to lactic acid, the ionic catalyzed Cannizzaro‐type reaction would take place. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry