Levulinic acid

Levulinic acid is a caramellic smelling, yellowish solid with a low melting point of 37°C. It is soluble in water, chloroform, alcohol, and ether. Levulinic acid is naturally sourced from various renewable resources like rice straw, bagasse, hazelnut shell, wood, wheat straw, rice husk, and extracted from agrochemical industrial waste material. It is also found in both natural and processed foods such as papaya, rice, sake, and wheaten bread.
Chemically, levulinic acid is a 5-carbon, organic, keto acid which is replacing petroleum products in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, agriculture, biofuel, and chemical applications. It is used produce several levulinic acid derivatives including succinic acid, resins, polymers, herbicides, pharmaceuticals and flavoring agents, solvents, plasticizers, and antifreeze agents. Levulinic acid is also used as a surfactant, acidity regulator, preservative, fragrance, stabilizer, and a conditioner in private treatment products.