Highly efficient production of lactic acid from cellulose using lanthanide triflate catalysts

Lanthanide triflates are excellent catalysts for the hydrothermal conversion of cellulose to lactic acid. Under the optimum conditions, as high as 89.6% yield of lactic acid was obtained by using Er(OTf)3 as the catalyst. This catalyst could be reused at least five times without obvious loss of activity.