Methyl lactate and lactic acid were synthesized by hydrolysis of starch and cellulose using SnCl4 catalyst.The use of ionic liquids as the solvent was the key factor for the successful hydrolysis.The influence of catalyst

type of ionic liquids

reaction temperature and time on the product yield were investigated.The results indicated that methyl lactate and lactic acid can be obtained via liquid phase transformation catalyzed by SnCl4 in 1

3-dimethylimidazolium methylsulfate ionic liquid at 140℃ for 2 h

the yield was 54% for starch and 15.1% for cellulose conversion.Fructose could be directly converted to lactic acid with almost stoichiometric yield

but only 64% for glucose.So

starch and cellulose were firstly catalyzed degradation to glucose that then was isomerized to fructose

and fructose decomposed to lactic acid finally.