Abstract: α-hydroxyacetic acid is one of the most important bulk fine chemicals，extensively used in adhesives，metal cleaning，biodegradable polymers，dyeing，textiles，and as a component in personal care products. The advantages of α-hydroxyacetic acid biosynthesis over traditional chemical conversion are wide range of reaction condition，high conversion ratio and green process. The review highlights the technical developments in the identification，quantification and separation of α-hydroxyacetic acid，especially solvent extraction and synergistic extraction. Finally，the developmental prospect of α-hydroxyacetic acid is presented.

摘要： α-羟基乙酸是一种重要的大宗精细化工中间体，广泛应用于黏合剂、金属清洗、生物降解材料、染色、纺织，而且是个人护理产品的重要组成成分。化学法生产羟基乙酸存在原料消耗大、产品收率低、环境污染严重等缺点；生物法合成羟基乙酸条件温和、底物转化率高，为绿色合成羟基乙酸提供强有力的技术支持。文章比较了各种羟基乙酸定性及定量分析方法，综述了羟基乙酸分离方法，特别是溶剂萃取和协同萃取效应。最后，分析了羟基乙酸的开发前景。