Levulinic Acid

UsesLevulinic acid is a biomass product and its derivatives, such as ethyl levulinate and alkyl levulinate, can be used as fuel additives. levulinic acid is used for calcium levulinate in pharmaceuticals, as esters in solvents and plasticizers, and for making valerolactone. As its uses expand, it will probably be made from cellulosic wastes. Mesitonic acid, a homolog of levulinic acid is obtained by boiing mesityl oxide with KCN. Hydrogenation of levulinic acid can produce other useful chemicals. Valeric-g-lactone, which is an effective solvent with extensive uses, can be obtained in very high yields. This compound may be hydrogenated to 1,4-pentandiol, which upon dehydration yields 1,3-pentadine (piperylene). Piperylene is known to polymerize to a rubbery mass and is therefore a source of synthetic rubber (Ghorpade and Hanna 1997). Levulinic acid is a precursor for the synthesis of useful intermediates such as γ-valerolactone, ethyl levulinate, pentanoic acid and 2-methyl-tetrahydrofuran. Derivatization and esterification of levulinic acid results in potential biofuels. It can also be used in: The preparation of catalytic composite to synthesize 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and furfural. The synthesis of a commercial fragrance, fraistone. The synthesis of pyrrolidone derivatives via reductive amination. The total synthesis of mycobacterial arabinogalactan.

DescriptionLevulinic acid has a tart, whiskey taste. It may be synthesized by the action of more or less concentrated HCL on sucrose, glucose, or fructose; hence, its reported presence in caramels.

OccurrenceReported found in papaya, wheat bread, rice, sake and Chinese quince.

UsesLevulinic acid may be used as an analytical reference standard for the quantification of the analyte in the following:Soy sauce using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC–MS).Liquid food samples using gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID).

UsesReplenisher (calcium).

UsesLevulinic acid is a precursor for the synthesis of useful intermediates such as γ-valerolactone, ethyl levulinate, pentanoic acid and 2-methyl-tetrahydrofuran. Derivatization and esterification of levulinic acid results in potential biofuels.It can also be used in:The preparation of catalytic composite to synthesize 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and furfural.The synthesis of a commercial fragrance, fraistone.The synthesis of pyrrolidone derivatives via reductive amination.The total synthesis of mycobacterial arabinogalactan.

General DescriptionLevulinic acid, an organic acid, is mainly used as a cigarette additive.

PreparationThe residue during the manufacturing of furfural with cotton seed shell or corncob sugar (furfural residue) or waste taro residue, through pressured hydrolysis with dilute acid, can be used to produce levulinic acid. The furfural residue was added to 10% dilute hydrochloric acid, the solidified solution was 1: 1.75, mixed and put into the hydrolysis pot, steamed at a pressure of 0.2MPa for 8-10 h. The diluted solution is then filtered and concentrated to a concentration of about 50%. It is further subject to vacuum distillation for collecting the fraction above 130 ℃ (2.67kPa) to obtain the finished product. Raw material consumption quota: potato tacar 7,000 kg/t, hydrochloric acid (fold 100%) 1800kg/t. Another method is manufacturing through the rearrangement and hydrolysis of sugar alcohol. 4% hydrochloric acid solution was added to the reaction pot, stir and heat to 97-100 ℃, slowly add the mixture of furfuryl alcohol, ethanol and water. After addition, stir 30 min. The filtrate was concentrated at 80 ° C (21.3 kPa) under reduced pressure to give crude levulinic acid. Then apply vacuum distillation, collect the fraction of 160-170 ° C (2.67kPa), and then re-distill once, to obtain the refined levulinic acid with the yield of about 75%.

PreparationBy action of more or less concentrated HCl on sucrose, glucose or fructose; hence, its reported presence in caramels.