Butyl lactate is a kind of lactate derived ester. As a kind of alpha-hydroxy acid ester, its applications in cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical formulations have significantly increased due to their hygroscopic, emulsifying and exfoliating properties. It is used as a food additive because of its flavoring effect. In industry, it can be used as solvent and chemical feedstock. As a bio-based solvent, it can be used as extractant for removing 1-butanol from the aqueous fermentation broths. It can be generally manufactured through the action of lipase from various origins.
