(15b) Catalytic Dehydration of Methyl Lactate

Catalytic dehydration of methyl lactate to acrylic acid and methyl acrylate on NaY is investigated via in-situ transmission FTIR spectroscopy. Ion exchange, Bronsted acid site-mediated dehydration and displacement reaction are proposed to be the key mechanistic steps in the surface mediated chemical transformation. Design principles for bifunctional catalysts have been developed based on the mechanistic insights will be discussed.