Production of value-added chemicals from bio-oil via acid catalysis coupled with liquid–liquid extraction

Abstract

Sugar/sugar derivatives in bio-oil can be effectively separated from aromatics via water/chloroform extraction. Subsequent acid-treatment in methanol converts the sugars into levulinic acid/ester and the sugar derivatives into fuel additives. Further extraction with CH2Cl2/CHCl3 could efficiently separate methyl levulinate and levulinic acid from other products.