Ammonia is often used for pH adjustment during fermentation of glucose to lactic acid. Its presence as ammonium lactate in the catalytic upgrading of lactic acid to 2,3-pentanedione over CsOH/silica reduces diketone yields to nearly zero at high ammonia levels. Removal of ammonia from the feed restores 2,3-pentanedione yield, indicating that the catalyst itself is not poisoned by ammonia. Instead, 2,3-pentanedione continues to form in the presence of ammonia and is consumed in secondary reactions downstream of the catalyst bed. Both base-catalyzed, self-condensation of 2,3-pentanedione to duroquinone (and oligomeric species) and direct reaction,of ammonia with the diketone are observed.