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PP-III-28REACTORS FOR SYNTHESIS OF LACTIDE FROM BUTIL LACTATEKhlopov D. 1 , Shvets V. 2 , Kozlovskiy R. 3 , Suchkov Y. 4D.I. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia,9 Miusskaya Square, Moscow, 125047, Russia,1 hlopovd@mail.ru, 2 hxc@muctr.ru, 3 rakozlovskiy@mail.ru, 4 hxc@muctr.ruIntroductionThe best solution of the problem of polymeric wastes is replacement ofpetrochemical polymers with bio-degradable polymers. One of the most promisingsuch polymers is polylactic acid (PLA) which can be synthesized from L-butil ester oflactic acid which in turn is produced by fermentation of renewable source. At presentthe most economical way to produce PLA is known to be polymerization of L-Lactide.The process of L-lactid production consists in catalytic synthesis of oligomers of butilester of lactic acid (BLAO) by polycondensation of butyl lactate followed by catalyticdepolymerization of BLAO. This two-step process is described by following chemicalreactions:OHOnH 3 COC 4 H 9OC 4 H 9+ (n-1)C 4 H 9 OHH O CH 3OnOOOH O CH 3OnC 4 H 9n/2H 3 COCH 3+ n C 4 H 9 OHOSuitable catalysts for both stages are some compounds of metals of Groups IV, Vor VIII of the Periodic Table. The concentration of the catalysts is about 0,5-3,0 % wt(counting on metal).ExperimentFor both of reactions the three types of reactor were investigated:1) Semibatch mixed reactor;2) Rotor film evaporator;3) Molecular distillation evaporator.490