Vapor-Phase Oxidation of Ethyl Lactate to Pyruvate over Various Oxide Catalysts

Abstract Oxidation of ethyl lactate to pyruvate was carried out in vapor-phase over various oxides. MoO3 showed a higher selectivity than that of the other single oxide examined. Binary oxides containing molybdenum such as Fe2O3–MoO3 and TeO2–MoO3 showed high selectivities to pyruvate over 90% at 300 °C with high lactate conversion over 75%. The maximum activity on SnO2–MoO3 was observed at a low temperature of 250 °C.