Production of levulinic acid and use as a platform chemical for derived products

Levulinic acid (LA) can be produced cost effectively and in high yield from renewable feedstocks in a new industrial process. The technology is being demonstrated on a 1 ton/day scale at a facility in South Glens Falls, New York. Low cost LA can be used as a platform chemical for the production of a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Resources, conservation and recycling conservation and recycling, 2000-02, Vol.28 (3), p.227-239
Main Authors: Bozell, Joseph J, Moens, L, Elliott, D.C, Wang, Y, Neuenscwander, G.G, Fitzpatrick, S.W, Bilski, R.J, Jarnefeld, J.L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Diphenolic acid
Levulinic acid
Methyltetrahydrofuran
Paper sludge
Platform chemicals
Renewables to chemicals
δ-Aminolevulinic acid
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Summary:Levulinic acid (LA) can be produced cost effectively and in high yield from renewable feedstocks in a new industrial process. The technology is being demonstrated on a 1 ton/day scale at a facility in South Glens Falls, New York. Low cost LA can be used as a platform chemical for the production of a wide range of value-added products. This research has demonstrated that LA can be converted to methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF), a solvent and fuel extender. MTHF is produced in >80% molar yield via a single stage catalytic hydrogenation process. A new preparation of δ-aminolevulinic acid (DALA), a broad spectrum herbicide, from LA has also been developed. Each step in this new process proceeds in high (>80%) yield and affords DALA (as the hydrochloride salt) in >90% purity, giving a process that could be commercially viable. LA is also being investigated as a starting material for the production of diphenolic acid (DPA), a direct replacement for bisphenol A.
ISSN:0921-3449
1879-0658
DOI:10.1016/S0921-3449(99)00047-6