90% 98% 99% Levulinic Acid Cas 123-76-2

1. What is Levulinic acid?

Levulinic acid, also known as γ-ketopentanoic acid or 4-oxopentanoic acid, is a polyfunctional organic acid containing carbonyl, α-hydrogen, and carboxyl groups. It is also an important platform compound derived from biomass conversion. Its chemical formula is usually written as:

C5H8O3 (CAS No.: 123-76-2, molecular weight approximately 116.12, EINECS No.: 204-649-2)

It is a white, flaky or leaf-like crystal at room temperature, melting into a pale yellow liquid at approximately 33-35°C. Its boiling point is approximately 245°C, relative density is approximately 1.13, and flash point is approximately 137.8°C. It is readily soluble in water, ethanol, and ether. Lipylpropionic acid is produced by the hydrolysis of biomass such as sugars, starch, and cellulose. It is listed by the U.S. Department of Energy as one of the 12 major bio-based platform compounds, possessing renewable and biodegradable green properties.

From a molecular structure perspective, levulinic acid contains both a carboxyl group (-COOH) and a ketone carbonyl group (C=O), belonging to the γ-keto acid family. It has rich chemical activity: the carboxyl group can form salts (such as calcium levulinate in calcium supplements) and esters, while the carbonyl group can undergo hydrogenation and condensation. In scientific research, it is a star molecule in green chemistry and biomass conversion. This dual attribute of "multifunctional groups + green and renewable" forms the basis for its application in scientific research and daily chemical fields.

Chemically, levulinic acid is relatively stable and hardly decomposes during distillation at normal pressure. However, prolonged heating will cause it to lose water and form unsaturated γ-lactones. It can cause irritation to skin and eyes. Store in a dry, sealed container. Keep away from fire and heat sources.

Non-industrial grade levulinic acid products are those intended for research and consumer applications. The primary non-industrial grade specifications are reagent-grade specifications. Non-industrial grade products focus on the following indicators more than industrial grade:

Control of purity and impurity

The main content of reagents of reagent grade shall be 98 per cent or more.

Limits for heavy metals (lead, arsenic etc.)

The harmful impurities such as heavy metals in products used in daily chemical products are strictly limited and are important safety indicators.

Moisture

Excessive moisture content can affect the synthesis reaction and the stability of the formulation, and must be controlled at a low level.

Color

The color should be light (light yellow); abnormal color often indicates impurities or oxidation.

II. What are the uses of levulinic acid?

1. Scientific research and laboratory applications (reagent grade)

Levulopyric acid is an important platform molecule in green chemistry and biomass conversion research. It is used for the derivatization of platform compounds, the synthesis of γ-valerolactone, and the research of biofuels and green solvents. It is also a commonly used reagent in organic synthesis experiments.

3. Cosmetics and Personal Care (Daily Chemical Grade)

Acetylacetic acid and its derivatives are used in cosmetic formulations as mild chemical exfoliants, exfoliating agents, and pH adjusters to help improve skin texture. Related applications must comply with the technical specifications for cosmetic safety.

4. Household cleaning and environmental protection products (consumer-grade)

Levulinic acid is highly soluble in water and is biodegradable. These properties make it suitable for use in the preparation of environmentally friendly cleaning and descaling agents for scale and stain removal and as a potential ingredient in green cleaning products.

5. Environmentally friendly plasticizers

Acetylpropionates (such as butyl acetylpropionate and octyl acetylpropionate) are green and environmentally friendly plasticizers that are biodegradable and have low toxicity. They are used to plasticize plastics, rubber and coatings and are potential alternatives to traditional phthalate plasticizers.

6. Bisphenolic acids and polymer monomers

Bisphenolic acid is prepared by condensation of acetylpropionic acid with phenol. Bisphenolic acid is a new green and environmental friendly polymer synthesis monomer, which can replace health risks of bisphenol A, and can be used to synthesise green polymer materials such as epoxy resins and polycarbonates.

7. γ-Valactone and Green Solvent

Hydrogenation of levulinic acid can yield $\gamma$-valerol (GVL), a high-performance green solvent and biofuel precursor that can replace some petroleum based solvents and is also an intermediate in the synthesis of fine chemicals.

8. Solvent and textile auxiliaries

Acetylacetic acid is a good solvent, and is used in textile printing and dying industry as a solvent of nitrocellulose, cellulose ethers, synthetic resins and natural resins. It is also used as a textile auxiliary to improve the performance of processing the fibres.

9. Pesticides and Rust Inhibitors

Aleucine is a synthetic intermediate used in the manufacture of insect repellents and as a corrosion inhibitor for metals and finds use in agrochemicals and metal protection.

10. Other Applications

With the development of green chemistry and biomedicine, the application scope of non-industrial grade levulinic acid continues to expand, including research on calcium sources for health food, custom synthesis, and supply of standard reagents.

Summarize

Levulinic acid, also known as levulinic acid (γ-ketovalerate), is a white, flaky, crystalline, multifunctional organic acid derived from biomass conversion. It is listed by the U.S. Department of Energy as one of the 12 major bio-based platform compounds, possessing renewable and biodegradable green properties. In daily life, we indirectly encounter it through plastic products, textiles, biofuels and green solvents, pesticides, and daily chemical products. In non-industrial applications, reagent-grade levulinic acid is widely used in calcium supplements (calcium levulinate), green chemistry and biomass conversion research, cosmetic exfoliation and removal, environmentally friendly cleaning products, and educational experiments. It is an important bio-based platform compound bridging "daily use" and "scientific research and green living."