Catalytic Dehydration of Lactic Acid on Active Sites Generated in-Situ

We demonstrate via in-situ FTIR spectroscopy that the dehydration of lactic acid and methyl lactate proceed on in-situ generated Bronsted acid sites via ion-exchange at solid-gas interfaces. The proposed mechanism can guide the rational design of active and selective catalysts for the renewable production of acrylic acid from lactic acid.