Efficient oxidative dehydrogenation of lactate to pyruvate using a gas-liquid micro flow system

An efficient production of pyruvate by the oxidative dehydrogenation of lactate is achieved using a micro flow system based on gas-liquid slug flow. In this micro flow system, oxidizing agents and acetonitrile solutions of lactates and vanadium species are used, and lactate is converted into the corresponding pyruvate. For reasons of atom economy and enhanced mass transfer of oxygen into the liquid phase, due to internal circulation flow within slugs, molecular oxygen is the preferred agent. In a catalyst screening, vanadium oxytrichloride (VOCl₃) gave the highest pyruvate yield. A continuous system is developed, consisting of the following two processes using T-shaped mixers: the mixing of an acetonitrile solution of lactate with that of VOCl₃ and the injection of oxygen gas into the solution mixture. Compared with the conventional batch system, the oxidative dehydrogenation of lactate to the corresponding pyruvate proceeds more effectively using this micro flow system.