Method for producing levulinic acid from lignocellulosic biomass

A method for producing levulinic acid from lignocellulosic biomass comprising hemicellulose including one or more six carbon chain compound precursors, the method comprising the steps of:

• hydrolyzing the lignocellulosic biomass in a reactor at a temperature of about 170° C. to about 185° C. for about 35 minutes to about 60 minutes to form a first phase comprising partially hydrolyzed lignocellulosic biomass including cellulose and lignin and a second phase comprising one or more five carbon chain sugars and one or more six carbon chain sugars from degradation of the hemicellulose, wherein the hydrolyzing comprises contacting the lignocellulosic biomass with at least one acid, wherein the acid is present in an amount of up to 10 percent, by weight, of the lignocellulosic biomass;
• separating the first phase from the second phase;
• and
• converting at least a portion of the one or more five carbon chain sugars to furfural, a furfural reaction intermediate, tar, or a combination thereof in the presence of the one or more six carbon chain sugars, by contacting the one or more five carbon chain sugars with at least one acid, wherein the acid is present in an amount of up to 10 percent, by weight, of the reactor contents;
• and
• separating at least a portion of the furfural, the furfural reaction intermediate, the tar, or the combination thereof from the one or more six carbon chain sugars, and thereafter
• converting at least a portion of the one or more six carbon chain sugars to levulinic acid in a reactor at a temperature of about 190° C. to about 220° C. for a period of 20 minutes to 60 minutes.