Production of levulinic acid: A promising building block material for pharmaceutical and food industry

• Published in: Materials today : proceedings Vol. 29; pp. 790 - 793
• Main Authors: Kumar, Anuj, Shende, Diwakar Z., Wasewar, K.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2020
• Subjects: Bio routes; Extraction; Levulinic acid; Production; Synthesis; Extraction; Synthesis; Levulinic acid; Bio routes; Production
• ISSN: 2214-7853; 2214-7853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2020.04.749

•The study describes the various routes like synthesis, bio, and extraction.•The reactive extraction method is the most versatile method for separation.•Levulinic acid is used making peels, capsules, injection, and food flavor.•Industrial waste like paper can be used for the extraction of levulinic acid.
Levulinic acid can be produced through various routes; synthesis, bio, and extraction routes. These routes release toxic gases and waste materials during the levulinic acid production. Therefore, it needs an environment-friendly method for the manufacture of levulinic acid. In synthesis route, various substrates viz. xylose, maltose, and sucrose translate to levulinic acid. Also, the bio route uses H2SO4, HCl for pre-treatment in the fermentation process during the production of levulinic acid and generates toxic wastes. In the present paper, an attempt is made to discuss the opportunities and challenges for the production of levulinic acid by synthesis, bio, and extraction routes.