LEVULINATE Meaning and
Definition
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Levulinate is a noun that refers to a salt or ester of levulinic acid. Levulinic acid, also known as 4-oxopentanoic acid, is a chemical compound derived from biomass or carbohydrate sources such as sugars, cellulose, or lignocellulosic materials. It is a colorless or slightly yellowish liquid with a fruity odor and is often used as a flavoring agent in the food industry.
Levulinate has gained significant attention in recent years due to its potential as a renewable and sustainable platform chemical. It can be produced through environmentally friendly processes and has the ability to replace various petroleum-based chemicals in the production of polymers, solvents, and other industrial applications.
As a salt or ester, levulinate can be formed by reacting levulinic acid with an alkali metal hydroxide or alcohol, respectively. These derivatives of levulinic acid offer different chemical properties and applications. For instance, levulinate salts are used as catalysts in various chemical reactions, while levulinate esters are utilized as solvents, plasticizers, or components in perfumes and cosmetics.
Due to its eco-friendly nature and versatile applications, levulinate is considered a promising renewable chemical that can contribute to reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. Its potential for replacing conventional chemicals in various industries has made it an area of active research and development, attracting attention from both academia and industries seeking sustainable alternatives.
Common Misspellings for LEVULINATE
- kevulinate
- pevulinate
- oevulinate
- lwvulinate
- lsvulinate
- ldvulinate
- lrvulinate
- l4vulinate
- l3vulinate
- leculinate
- lebulinate
- legulinate
- lefulinate
- levylinate
- levhlinate
- levjlinate
- levilinate
- lev8linate
- lev7linate
- levukinate
Etymology of LEVULINATE
The word "levulinate" comes from the combination of two components: "levulinic" and "-ate".
The term "levulinic" is derived from "levulose", which is an older name for fructose. "Levulose" itself is formed from "levose" meaning "left-hand" and "-ose" indicating a carbohydrate. This is because fructose differs from glucose in its ability to rotate plane-polarized light to the left.
The suffix "-ate" is often used in chemistry to denote salts or esters of acids.
Therefore, "levulinate" refers to the salt or ester of levulinic acid, which is formed by reaction with an alcohol.
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