Valorization of biomass to levulinic acid

Levulinic acid is a cornerstone platform chemical in green chemistry on account of its extensive application in various industries. Levulinic acid and its derivatives are utilized in the biomass conversion processes that utilize the biochemical platform molecules as substitutes for non-renewable energy resources. While the hydrolysis of furfuryl alcohol and maleic anhydride are known for the synthesis of high-quality levulinic acid, various catalytic routes are utilized for the biomass-derived conversions for the synthesis of levulinic acid and its valuable derivatives, such as homogenous acid catalysis, heterogenous acid catalysis, and solvolysis by supercritical and ionic liquids. Besides recognizing the industrially important levulinic acid derivatives extensively for their better yields, applications, and suppressed formation of the side product humins, the growing economies are focusing to utilize fuel and energy from renewable sources rather than the traditional use of diminishing non-renewable energy sources. In this chapter, we discuss a comprehensive detail of various catalytic conditions for the efficient biomass conversions to levulinic acid, its respective derivatives as new alternative energy resource implied in the industries.