Our patented process is useful to obtain levulinic acid esters by direct alcoholysis of carbohydrates, such as C6 monosaccharides and/or polysaccharides thereof and/or chitin and/or chitosan, with a predetermined alcohol, takes place at a reaction temperature preferably between 100°C and 220°C for a time preferably between 30 and 300 minutes and in the presence of a co-solvent with specific properties, in addition to a conventional acid catalyst said alcohol and said co
solvent are preferably separated from the reaction mixture after conversion and then, recycled back to the conversion step
Research Institution:
Università di Pisa
