METHOD OF OBTAINING LEVULINIC ACID BY ACID-CATALYTIC SACCHAROSE CONVERSION Russian patent published in 2008 - IPC C07C59/185 C07C51/00 C07C51/09 

FIELD: chemistry.

SUBSTANCE: target product is obtained by acid-catalytic conversion of saccharose in presence of hydrochloric acid (90-250 g/l) as catalyst with addition of potassium chloride (10-80 g/l) at normal pressure. Into obtained solution of levulinic acid potassium chloride is added to concentration 30-200 g/l and levulinic acid is isolated without preliminary neutralisation of catalyst by extraction at 30-80°C in form of butyllevulinate, after which content of potassium chloride in remaining water solution of catalyst is reduced to 10-80 g/l by precipitation at 0+10°C, obtained butyllevulinate is hydrolysed into levulinic acid by boiling with water till complete distillation of butanol. After extraction excess of potassium chloride is precipitated from catalyst solution by cooling to temperature 0+10°C.

EFFECT: reduction of catalyst consumption and number of steps of target product extraction and reduction of extragent amount.

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