Conversion of cellulose to glucose and levulinic acid via solid-supported acid catalysis

Cellulose is hydrolyzed to glucose, which is further converted to levulinic acid in the presence of surface-supported Brønsted and Lewis acid catalysts. Nafion catalysts, in particular, have the potential to be recycled or applied to a continuous flow reactor for the synthesis of these biofuel precursors. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved