METHOD OF PREPARING LEVULINIC ACID Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: preparation of levulinic acid from saccharose more particularly pharmaceutical and perfumery industries. SUBSTANCE: desired product is prepared by hydrolysis of saccharose in the presence of hydrochloric acid as catalyst at about 100 C and standard pressure. The resulting levulinic acid is isolated by extraction. Method uses large concentrations of hydrochloric acid (90-250 g/l) and uses butanol, ethyl acetate or butyl acetate as extracting agent. EFFECT: shorter process duration, smaller amount of succharose, increased yield of the desired product and elimination of evaporation stage of reaction mixture. 7 ex, 1 tbl