Research on Renewable Energy and Sustainability
The research activity focuses on the design and characterization of new sensitizers for innovative energy conversion systems from renewable sources and for hydrogen production.
Process for obtaining levulinic acid esters, in particular alkyl levulinates
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