Patents

The invention relates to the zero discharge process for the selective recovery of 5-Hydroxymethyl Furfural (HMF) and Levulinic Acid (LA) directly from crude seaweed aqueous extracts using water-soluble, non-corrosive and non-metallic solid acid mediator potassium hydrogen sulphate (KHSO4). The obtained HMF (= 99 %) and Levulinic Acid (LA) (= 87 %) were showed high purity by gas chromatographic analysis. The process involves simple solvent extraction and removal of solvent, yield high purity of the products. The pure yield of the product HMF was obtained up to 91 mol%. The process does not generate any waste in the entire process and also minimises the use of water as the mediator. These advantages of the invention makes the process cost effective and environment-friendly.