Hydrolysis of carboxylic lactones in alumina slurries

The hydrolysis of three carboxylic lactones, β-butyrolactone, d-gulonic γ-lactone, and (±)-α-hydroxy γ-butyrolactone, has been investigated in water and electrosterically stabilised alumina slurries. The effect of the acidification behaviour on the viscosity of the alumina slurries due to coagulation has also been studied. It has been found that the reaction temperature has a more significant influence than lactone concentration on the hydrolysis and acidification rate and hence on the time before the slurry becomes sufficiently rigid to be self-supporting.