Synthesis of pyruvic acid by vapour phase catalytic oxidative dehydrogenation of lactic acid

• Linear relationship for reducibility and Ni/Nb atomic ratio.
• Specific productivity correlates to Ni/Nb ratio.
• Low reaction temperature inhibits decarboxylation to acetaldehyde.

The oxidative dehydrogenation of lactic acid to pyruvic acid was studied over nickel–niobium mixed oxide catalysts with different Ni/Nb ratios. Furthermore the catalysts were characterized by XRD, ICP, TPR and nitrogen adsorption. Thus, it was found that the reducibility and the surface productivity were directly correlated to the Ni/Nb ratio, whereby increased Nb amount was found favourable for the catalytic performance. Furthermore, the formation of by-products was studied showing that acetaldehyde was formed by thermal decarboxylation of lactic acid and acetic acid yielded from the catalytic oxidation of the as-formed acetaldehyde.

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