GLOBAL KINETICS OF THE ALKALINE OXIDATIVE DEGRADATIONS OF LACTOSE

The kinetics of the ''classical'' and the anthraquinone-2-sulfonate (A MS) catalyzed alkaline oxidative degradation of lactose and related ca rbohydrates have been investigated. Batch experiments were carried out at initial sugar concentrations from 100 to 375 mol m(-3), AMS concen trations from 0 to 5 mol m(-3), di-oxygen concentrations from 0.28 to 1.38 mol m(-3), a pH from 11.5 to 13.5 and temperatures at 293 and 303 K. A reaction network is presented that accounts for the main product s formed. Regression analysis of the experimental data, using a multi- response Marquardt algorithm, allowed the experimental data to be desc ribed adequately by a reaction sequence consisting of different oxidat ion pathways starting from the sugar enediolates and having the format ion of the latter as the common, most important, rate-determining step .