Abstract: Provided by the present disclosure are a method and a device for preparing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyric acid and intermediates thereof; the intermediates for preparing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyric acid comprise 3-methylthiopropionaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyronitrile. The method for preparing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyric acid provided by the present disclosure comprises: step (1), a step of reacting acrolein with methyl mercaptan to prepare 3-methylthiopropionaldehyde; step (2), a step of reacting 3-methylthiopropionaldehyde with hydrocyanic acid to prepare 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyronitrile; and step (3), a step of hydrating 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyronitrile by using sulfuric acid and then hydrolyzing to prepare 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyric acid; wherein in steps (1), (2) and (3), the reaction status of the materials is detected online, and the proportions of the materials are controlled according to the detection results such that reactions are performed completely.

Abstract: Provided by the present disclosure are a method and a device for preparing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyric acid and intermediates thereof; the intermediates for preparing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyric acid comprise 3-methylthiopropionaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyronitrile.