Properties And Stability Of Levulinic Acid

1. White flake or leaf-like crystals, flammable. Soluble in water, alcohol, ether organic solvents, insoluble in aliphatic hydrocarbons. Almost no decomposition by atmospheric distillation, but dehydration by long-term heating to form unsaturated γ-lactone. Hygroscopic, the acidity of aqueous solution is stronger than acetic acid.
2. Chemical properties: Can react with ketones and acids. Reacts with hydrazine to form hydrazones; reacts with alkali to form salts; reacts with alcohol to form esters, etc. It can also undergo oxidation, reduction, and halogenation reactions.
3. Exists in flue-cured tobacco leaves, burley tobacco leaves, and flue gas.