One-pot acid-catalyzed levulinic acid production from lignocellulosic biomass

Abstract

Provided are methods for producing levulinic acid from hemp hurds. In some embodiments, the methods include dissolving hemp hurds in an ionic liquid medium to produce a cellulose-rich product; hydrolyzing cellulose present in the cellulose-rich product to produce a glucose-rich product; dehydrating glucose present in the glucose-rich product, and/or fructose resulting from isomerization of the glucose, to produce 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF); and hydrolyzing the HMF to levulinic acid. Also provided are methods for producing levulinic acid from sugar sources generally, which can include providing a sugar source, wherein the sugar source is a hydrolysis product produced by hydrolyzing a cellulose-rich product generated from hemp hurds and/or a cellulase digestion product of softwood pre-treated with phosphoric acid (HPO) or another acid; dehydrating the glucose present in the sugar source, and/or fructose resulting from isomerization of glucose present in the sugar source, to produce 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF); and hydrolyzing the HMF to produce levulinic acid.