Platform molecules levulinic acid

Abstract The synthesis and chemistry of 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF), 5-(chloromethyl)furfural (CMF), and levulinic acid (LA), three carbohydrate-derived platform molecules produced by the chemical-catalytic processing of lignocellulosic biomass, is reviewed. Starting from the historical derivation of these molecules and progressing through modem approaches to their production from biomass feedstocks, this review will then survey their principal derivative chemistries, with particular attention to aspects of commercial relevance, and discuss the relative merits of each molecule in the future of biorefining. 

Levulinic acid and its derivatives are key platform molecules opening promising pathways for novel bio-based polymers from lignocellulosic feedstock and could be potential precursors of synthetic mbbers or resins. Carbohydrate-based monomers suited for polycondensation have been primarily considered for developing a growing industrial sector, now starting to compete with conventional oil-based polymer production. 

Levulinic acid as platform molecule to oxygenated fuels alkyl levulinates and valeric biofuels... 

Levulinic acid (LA) is a compound derived from 5-HMF and Usted among the top 12 most promising value-added chemicals from biomass. This platform molecule is formed by dehydration in acidic media of hexoses to 5-HMF and subsequent hydration produces LA, formic acid, along with other unwanted polymerized products (humins) (Mukherjee et al., 2015). Likewise, LA can also be obtained by the hydrolysis of furfuryl alcohol (see Fig. 13.1). 

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