Abstract:
Provided is a method for preparing levulinic acid using a solid acid catalyst in the presence of an ethylene glycol-based compound. The levulinic acid according to the present invention can be prepared by using a linear or cyclic ethylene glycol-based compound as a solvent and preparing the levulinic acid from fructose in the presence of the solid acid catalyst at a reaction temperature of 100 to 200° C., thereby reducing the dependency on petroleum in response to greenhouse gas emission regulations. Also, a high yield of levulinic acid can be obtained from fructose, and the solvent and the catalyst can be efficiently separated, collected, and reused after the reaction has completed.