Abstract: A process for producing levulinic acid includes a step of catalytic conversion of a pentose (in particular xylose or arabinose) into furfural in an organic solvent having a boiling temperature from 60° C. to 220° C., followed by a step of reduction of furfural to furfuryl alcohol, in the presence of a Lewis acid as catalyst and a protic solvent. Eventually, furfuryl alcohol is converted into levulinic acid directly or indirectly, by preliminary conversion into a levulinic acid ester and its subsequent hydrolysis. This process has a reduced environmental impact and guarantees satisfactory process yields on an industrial scale. In particular, the process allows to reduce as much as possible the formation of humins, which require complex and costly purification processes and involve a considerable reduction in the levulinic acid yields.

Abstract: A composition including at least one polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) having saturated side chains dissolved in at least one aromatic solvent between 50 g/1 and 200 g/l and preferably between 80 g/l and 180 g/l. The at least one PHA has a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) not greater than 250,000 Da and preferably not greater than 150,000 Da. This composition is particularly suitable as a binder for coating products. The composition can be produced by mixing the PHA with the aromatic organic solvent and heating the mixture at a temperature close to the PHA melting temperature, maintaining the mixture under stirring until complete dissolution of the polymer. Alternatively, the composition can be produced by dissolution of the PHA in a non-aromatic organic solvent having low boiling temperature where the PHA is highly soluble, subsequent addition of the aromatic organic solvent and subsequent removal of the non-aromatic organic solvent by fractional distillation.

Abstract: A composition including at least one polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) having saturated side chains dissolved in at least one aromatic solvent between 50 g/1 and 200 g/l and preferably between 80 g/l and 180 g/l. The at least one PHA has a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) not greater than 250,000 Da and preferably not greater than 150,000 Da. This composition is particularly suitable as a binder for coating products. The composition can be produced by mixing the PHA with the aromatic organic solvent and heating the mixture at a temperature close to the PHA melting temperature, maintaining the mixture under stirring until complete dissolution of the polymer. Alternatively, the composition can be produced by dissolution of the PHA in a non-aromatic organic solvent having low boiling temperature where the PHA is highly soluble, subsequent addition of the aromatic organic solvent and subsequent removal of the non-aromatic organic solvent by fractional distillation.