METHOD FOR PREPARING LEVULINIC ACID BY LOW-TEMPERATURE ACIDIC HYDROLYSIS OF SUCROSE Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: organic chemistry, chemical technology. SUBSTANCE: invention relates to method for preparing levulinic acid that is used for production of modern monomers in polymeric industry, aromatic principles, medicinal preparations. Method involves low-temperature acidic hydrolysis of sucrose under normal pressure with extractive extraction of the end product with butanol. Sulfuric acid solution in the concentration 181-264 g/l of reactive solution and alkaline metal or magnesium soluble sulfate in the concentration 71-284 g/l of reactive solution are used as catalyst. Extraction of levulinic acid is carried out from reaction mass directly. Method ensures to reduce the consumption of acid and alkali by 10-20 times, reduce hydrolysis time from 180 min to 60-30 min, enhance effectiveness of extraction of reaction mass with butanol due to positive effect of desalting action of metal sulfates used. EFFECT: improved preparing method. 1 tbl