본 연구는 해양 갑각류의 껍질의 주요 구성성분인 키틴/키토산의 단량체인 glucosamine을 고체 산 촉매를 이용하여 화학중간체인 levulinic acid와 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (5-HMF)을 생산하기 위한 전환 반응을 수행하였다. 반응 결과, glucosamine 50 g/L, 반응온도 180 ℃, 촉매량 5%, 그리고 반응시간 60분의 조건에서 약 36.86%의 levulinic acid를 얻을 수 있었다. 반면에 5-HMF는 약 0.91%의 낮은 수율로 전환되었다.

In this study, the conversion of glucosamine, which is a major monomer in chitin/chitosan of crustacean shell, using solid acid catalyst was performed to obtain chemical intermediates such as levulinic acid and 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (5-HMF). The conversion reaction was optimized with four reaction factors of selection of ionic resin catalyst, reaction temperature, catalyst amount, and reaction time. As an optimized result, the highest levulinic acid yield was achieved approximately 36.86% under the determined conditions (Amberlyst 15 as a solid-acid catalyst, 180 °C, 5% catalyst amount and 60 min). On the other hand, 5-HMF yield was found to be 0.91% at the condition.