The present invention relates to a process for separating levulinic acid from a composition comprising levulinic acid and humins, wherein said composition is subjected to a step of thermal separation in the presence of a flux having a boiling point greater than that of the levulinic acid, so as to obtain a light fraction containing the levulinic acid and a heavy fraction containing the humins and said flux. The presence of a flux makes it possible to reduce the viscosity of the humins and to increase the recovery rate of levulinic acid.

The present invention relates to a process for separating levulinic acid from a composition comprising levulinic acid and humins, wherein said composition is subjected to a step of thermal separation in the presence of a flux having a boiling point greater than that of the levulinic acid, so as to obtain a light fraction containing the levulinic acid and a heavy fraction containing the humins and said flux. The presence of a flux makes it possible to reduce the viscosity of the humins and to increase the recovery rate of levulinic acid.

The present invention relates to a process for synthesizing levulinic acid by hydration of furfuryl alcohol at a temperature of between 25 and 140 C. in the presence of a homogeneous acid catalyst and of an ether- and/or acetal-based solvent. The use of such a solvent makes it possible to obtain an equivalent or even better yield compared to those obtained with known solvents, while at the same time exhibiting high stability properties.

The present invention relates to a process for synthesizing levulinic acid by hydration of furfuryl alcohol at a temperature of between 25 and 140 C. in the presence of a homogeneous acid catalyst and of an ether- and/or acetal-based solvent. The use of such a solvent makes it possible to obtain an equivalent or even better yield compared to those obtained with known solvents, while at the same time exhibiting high stability properties.

The present disclosure relates to a process for producing levulinic acid from the technical lignin. The technical lignin is rich in lignin and ash and do not have any other use and usually incinerated as a waste management strategy. During the incineration process, the cellulose also gets burnt and wasted. In the present disclosure, there is provided an economical and environmentally friendly process to produce levulinic acid from the technical lignin by using a synergistic combination of catalysts for high yields and high titer with acid recycling in a cost-effective manner.

The present disclosure relates to a process for producing levulinic acid from the technical lignin. The technical lignin is rich in lignin and ash and do not have any other use and usually incinerated as a waste management strategy. During the incineration process, the cellulose also gets burnt and wasted. In the present disclosure, there is provided an economical and environmentally friendly process to produce levulinic acid from the technical lignin by using a synergistic combination of catalysts for high yields and high titer with acid recycling in a cost-effective manner.

Levulinic acid and formic acid are valuable chemical intermediaries present in byproducts of some biomass conversion processes. Described herein are commercially viable processes for extracting levulinic acid and formic acid at high recovery. Under the present approach, levulinic acid and formic acid may be extracted from an aqueous reactor product, such as an acidic brine (e.g., calcium chloride brine) feed from a biomass hydrolysis reaction. If present, mineral acid catalysts may be recovered. Embodiments use solvents such as, e.g., 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran, for extracting levulinic acid and formic acid from the aqueous solution.

Levulinic acid and formic acid are valuable chemical intermediaries present in byproducts of some biomass conversion processes. Described herein are commercially viable processes for extracting levulinic acid and formic acid at high recovery. Under the present approach, levulinic acid and formic acid may be extracted from an aqueous reactor product, such as an acidic brine (e.g., calcium chloride brine) feed from a biomass hydrolysis reaction. If present, mineral acid catalysts may be recovered. Embodiments use solvents such as, e.g., 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran, for extracting levulinic acid and formic acid from the aqueous solution.