A simple process for the production of fuel additives using residual lignocellulosic biomass

Abstract

In this work, the direct production of levulinates from cheap residual lignocellulosic biomass was performed using an affordable homogeneous catalyst. A central composite design (CCD) using the response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to analyze the effects of the four selected factors (acid concentration, temperature, α-cellulose content, and reaction time) on the production of levulinates (levulinic acid derivatives). This optimization led to a total production of levulinates of 78 wt%, 72.5 wt%, 83 wt%, and 73 wt% using α-cellulose, poplar, sorghum, and softwood bark, respectively.