• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.266-272
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• 2020

In this study, the production of ethyl levulinate from chitosan using successive acid-catalyzed hydrolysis and esterification was investigated. To optimize and analysis the reaction factors and heir reciprocal interaction, response surface methodology was introduced. In the effect of water content in ethanol solvent, the production yield of ethyl levulinate was high at 5% water content (or 95% ethanol). As a result of optimization of reaction factors, 30.1% ethyl levulinate yield was obtained under the condition of 200 ℃, 3.19% chitosan, 0.49M sulfuric acid, 5% water content, and 58 min. Finally, the formation yield of ethyl levulinate was tended to enhance by increase of combined severity factor. This result indicated that the potential of chitosan as feedstock for production of chemicals and fuels.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.519-526
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• 2016

Biomass derived jet fuel is proven as a potential alternative for the currently used fossil oriented energy. The efficient production of jet fuel precursor with special molecular structure is prerequisite in producing biomass derived jet fuel. We synthesized a new jet fuel precursor containing branched $C_{15}$ framework by aldol condensation of furfural (FA) and ethyl levulinate (EL), where the latter of two could be easily produced from lignocellulose by acid catalyzed processes. The highest yield of 56% for target jet fuel precursor could be obtained at the optimal reaction condition (molar ratio of FA/EL of 2, 323 K, 50 min) by using KOH as catalyst. The chemical structure of $C_{15}$ precursor was specified as (3E, 5E)-6-(furan-2-yl)-3-(furan-2-ylmethylene)-4-oxohex-5-enoic acid ($F_2E$). For stabilization, this yellowish solid precursor was hydrogenated at low temperature to obtain C=C bonds saturated product, and the chemical structure was proposed as 4-oxo-6-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)-3-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)-methyl hexanoic acid ($H-F_2E$). The successful synthesis of the new jet fuel precursors showed the significance that branched jet fuel could be potentially produced from biomass derived FA and EL via fewer steps.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1380-1384
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• 2001

The chemoselective reactions of 1,n-dicarbonyl compounds with allyl halides using indium metal were investigated. $\alpha-Ketoesters$ such as ethyl pyruvate, ethyl 3-methyl-2-oxobutyrate and ethyl benzoylformate reacted with a variety of allyl halides i n the presence of indium to afford hydroxy unsaturated carbonyl compounds in good to excellent yields in MeOH/HCl at $25^{\circ}C.$ For the allyl bromide, the presence of various substituents at the $\alpha$ or $\gamma$ position exhibited little effects on both the reaction rates and yields. Ethyl acetoacetate or ethyl levulinate was treated with allylindium reagent to give hydroxy unsaturated carbonyl compounds in good yield. These results mean that both reactivity and selectivity are independent of the distance between carbonyl groups. 2,3-Butanedione or 1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione reacted with allylindium to produce monoallylation product as major compound.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.475-489
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• 2022

The objective of this study was to understand the conversion characteristics of glucose and xylose using the major monosaccharide standards for lignocellulosic biomass. The acid-catalyzed organosolv pretreatment conducted using ethanol was significantly different from the acid-catalyzed process conducted in an aqueous medium. 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), levulinic acid and furfural were produced from glucose conversion. The maximum yield of 5-HMF was 5.5%, at 200℃, when 0.5% sulfuric acid was used. The maximum yield of levulinic acid was 21.5%, at 220℃, when 1.0% sulfuric acid was used. Furfural was produced from xylose conversion and under 0.5% sulfuric acid, furfural reached the maximum yield 48.5% at 210℃. Ethyl levulinate and methyl levulinate were also formed from the glucose standard following the esterification reaction conducted under conditions of the combined conversion method, which proceeded under both ethanol-rich and water-rich conditions.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.10-15
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• 2016

In this new energy economy era, the importance of renewable energy resource needs to be highly addressed, as the demand of energy dramatically increases and fossil fuel is being exhausted. Lignocellulosic biomass is considered as the sustainable and renewable feedstock to produce biochemicals and biofuels that are the alternative for petroleum derived products. Furfural is a natural precursor for the range of furan based chemicals and solvents such as methylfuran, tetrahydrofuran, methyltetrahydrofuran, ethyltetrahydrofuryl ether, ethyl levulinate, levulinic acid, and alkanes. Thus, furfural should be a renewable platform chemical for biochemicals and renewable biofuels. In this paper, the concept of biorefinery, furfural production and its applications are briefly reviewed.