Lactic acid

 

Lactic acid

Chemical formula	CH3C(OH)COOH
OTP appearance	white solid
Molar Mass(g/mol)	90.08
Density(g/cc)	1.22
Melting Point(°C)	53
Boiling Point(°C)	119-122
NFPA 704	1 3 0

Uses

Primary

• Pharm: feedstock for WHO LEM sodium lactate

Hazards

• Eye contact: irritant/corrosive; Skin contact: irritant; Ingestion 3g/kg

Production

Extraction

• Fermentation by Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus acidophilus

Synthesis

1. Combine acetaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide, producing lactonitrile

   CH₃CHO + HCN → CH₃C(OH)CN

2. Hydrolyze the lactonitrile in the presence of hydrochloric acid

   CH₃(OH)CN + H₂O

   {HCl

   →

   }

   CH₃C(OH)CONH₂ // Phase 1, first hydrolysis

   CH₃C(OH)CONH₂ + H₂O

   {HCl

   →

   }

   CH₃C(OH)COONH₄ // Phase 2, second hydrolysis

   CH₃C(OH)COONH₄ + HCl

   {HCl

   →

   }

   CH₃C(OH)COOH + NH₄Cl // Phase 3, autoneutralization