Abstract: Synthesis of ethyl lactate is studied by using imidazole ionic liquid as catalyst and ethyl acetate as water-stripping agent. Several factors to product yield were predicted by response surface methodology，including the molar ratio of ethanol to lactic acid，the molar ratio of ionic liquid（IL）to lactic acid，the total reflux time，the amount of water-stripping agent and the water separation time. The prediction for product yield was consistent with experimental results. The optimized reaction conditions were found to be the molar ratio of ethanol to lactic acid of 4，the molar ratio of IL to lactic acid of 0.7，the total reflux time of 1.2 h，74% water-stripping agent amount of the theoretical dosage and the water separation time of 6.6 h，by which the yield of ethyl lactate was about 80%.

摘要： 以酸性咪唑离子液体为催化剂，乙酸乙酯为带水剂研究了乳酸乙酯的合成。应用响应面法预测醇酸摩尔比、离子液体（IL）酸摩尔比、全回流时间、带水剂用量、分水反应时间5个因素对产率的影响，并通过实验发现实际收率与预测值基本吻合。得到的最佳反应条件为：醇酸摩尔比4，IL酸摩尔比0.7，全回流1.2 h，加入带水剂用量为理论用量的74%，分水反应6.6 h，此时乳酸乙酯的收率可达80%。