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 one 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 {gt}80% molar yield via a single stage catalytic hydrogenation process. A new preparation of {delta}-aminolevulinic acid (DALA), a broad spectrum herbicide from LA has also been developed. Each step in this new process proceeds in high ({gt}80%) yield and affords DALA (as the hydrochloride salt) in greater than 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.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO (US)
- OSTI ID:
- 20001900
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 1999 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Industry, Albany, NY (US), 06/15/1999--06/18/1999; Other Information: PBD: 1999; Related Information: In: Industry and innovation in the 21st century, proceedings, 854 pages.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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