All Categories
History
This section provides an overview for levulinic acids as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 15 levulinic acid manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked levulinic acid companies as of December, 2024: 1.Jiangsu Victory Chemical Co., Ltd, 2.KANTO CHEMICAL CO.,INC., 3.Merck.
Table of Contents
Levulinic acid, known chemically as 4-oxopentanoic acid (C5H8O3), is an organic compound with significant potential in biofuel production and various industrial applications. It can be produced by heating cellulose with inorganic acids or from the breakdown of starch and cellulose, showcasing its viability as a sustainable resource.
Levulinic acid finds applications in hair treatment products, creating hydrophobic cross-links that enhance hair resilience. It serves as a precursor for the synthesis of polymers, synthetic rubber, and nylon, and is utilized in cigarette manufacturing for nicotine delivery. Additionally, it holds potential in photodynamic therapy.
This compound melts between 33-35°C, boils at 245-246°C, and is soluble in water, ethanol, and ether. Its structure includes a carboxy group, with a molecular weight of 116.11 and a density of 1.1447 g/cm3.
Discovered in 1840 by Johannes Mulder, levulinic acid gained commercial interest in the 1940s through A. E. Staley's production efforts, emphasizing its importance as a platform chemical.
Commercially synthesized from hexoses or starch, levulinic acid production involves dilute acid hydrolysis under high pressure and temperature, using lignocellulose as an affordable raw material. The process includes extraction and distillation for purification.
Beyond biofuels, levulinic acid is pivotal in producing pharmaceuticals, plasticizers, cosmetics, and fragrances. It is a key ingredient in making biodegradable herbicides and serves as a foundational compound for synthesizing various chemicals.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
Sort by Area
Kanto Chemical Co. Inc., founded in 1944 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a reagent manufacturer with overseas affiliates in other countries, including China, France, USA, Taiwan, and Malaysia. Its product portfolio includes analytical reagents, ionic liquids, Iodine compounds, ultra-pure chemicals, and water analysis kits. The company is also developing regenerative medicine and genetics reagents and has over 50,000 products. It has several certifications, including ISO 9001, acquired in 1994, making it the first Japanese company in the reagent industry. Other certifications are ISO 14001, ISO 13485, and ISO/IEC 17025.
Junsei Chemical Co. Ltd., established in 1948 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer of chemical reagents and chemical products, including commissioned synthesis of chemical products. Some of the products it makes include Sodium chloride solution, concentrated glycerin, calcium chloride, ascorbic acid, and nitric acid. The chemical products have a wide range of applications and can be used in pathological examination, as food additives, for analysis, and in the pharmaceutical industry. All its plants, including its research institute, are ISO4001 and ISO9001 certified, while its Saitama and Ibaraki plants are equipped with buildings that comply with GMP.
Kishida Chemical Co. Ltd., established in 1924 and headquartered in Osaka, Japan, is a manufacturer of reagents and high-purity chemicals and also does drug discovery support activities. Its product portfolio includes fine chemicals, research chemicals, ionic liquid, organic micro-analytical reagents, and chemical reagents for analysis. The products support several industries, including reagent business, battery material, drug discovery, and life science. The company is ISO 14001 certified and supplies several companies worldwide, including Meterion Advanced Chemicals Inc., Acros Organics, ChemBridge Corporation, Decon Laboratories, and InerBioScreen Ltd.
Otsuka Chemical Co., Ltd., was established in 1950 and is headquartered in Osaka, Japan as a manufacturer of inorganic salts among other products. The company offers an extensive and diversified product portfolio including blended foaming agents, polymerization initiators, potassium titanate filler, advanced rubber additives, aromatic chemicals, and more. These products are integral to various industries including the automotive sector as capacitor electrolysis solutions for electric components, electronic devices as a detergent for semiconductor-related components, residential use as a fire retardant for printed boards, and medical use as synthetic raw materials.
Hefei Home Sunshine Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd, established in 2013 and headquartered in Hefei City, China, is a manufacturer specializing in both standard and custom chemical synthesis. With manufacturing facilities in Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Inner Mongolia, Home Sunshine Pharma offers a range of products, including active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), intermediates, fine chemicals, coenzymes, and nucleotides. As an ISO 9001:2015 certified company, Home Sunshine Pharma serves research institutions, universities, and industries in Europe, America, and Southeast Asia with their chemical products.
Hefei TNJ Chemical Industry Co., Ltd, established in 2001, is headquartered in China. The company is a chemical manufacturer and supplier of chemicals to domestic Chinese and global consumers in four primary markets: chemicals, food, pharmaceuticals, and personal care. Chemicals include fine chemicals, agrochemicals, and other chemicals. Food includes agrochemicals, vitamins, amino acids, and food ingredients. Pharmaceuticals include specific chemicals such as Povidone iodine, Clotrimazole crystalline, and Lincomycin. The company also features a CAS databank for CAS-registered chemical compounds.
Merck, started in 1668 and based in Darmstadt, Germany, is a supplier of solutions and services for research, development, and manufacture of pharmaceutical and biotechnological drug therapies. The company serves the life science industry and has a broad portfolio of 300,000 products, including biopharmaceutical manufacturing, industrial microbiology, reagent, life science research, and water purification products. It is available in 66 countries, brings together six brands, and has several ISO certifications, including ISO 13485, ISO 14001, ISO 13485, and ISO 50001.
Dubi Chem was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in the United Arab Emirates. The company is a marine chemical manufacturer based in Asia, serving marine, oilfield, water treatment, automotive, and shipping industries. The company’s product list includes hundreds of chemicals and finished products, ranging from wheel cleaners to skin care pastes to oil drilling chemicals. The company provides services such as inspections and cleaning specialists who provide dedicated tank cleanings preloading and post-delivery, logistics services, and private labeling options for OEMs and other manufacturers to self-label.
Nacalai Tesque Inc., founded in 1846 and headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer of research chemicals, fine chemicals, diagnostics, and the related instruments. Some of its products include cytokines, nucleic acid electrophoresis, cell dissociation reagents, and sialic acid-related products, and it also offers custom and bulk service for bulk reagents and cell culture media. The company has more than 50 domestic distributors and several worldwide, including Asia, the Middle East, Oceania, Europe, and Africa. It is ISO 9001 and ISO 9002 certified, while the Kyoto South brand and Tesque factory are ISO 14001 certified.
Jigs Chemical was established in 1998 and is based in India with global offices in the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia. Jigs Chemical is a manufacturer, distributor, and marketing & sales provider for organizations in India, specializing in chemicals and active pharmaceutical ingredients for pharmaceutical, agriculture, ceramics, metal treatment, and other industries. Jigs Chemical helps facilitate international customers to obtain chemicals from India, providing import and export assistance. Jigs Chemical’s product catalog includes over 40000 active pharmaceutical ingredients, commonly called APIs, their respective intermediates, and other chemicals.
Founded in 1981, Central Drug House Ltd. serves the scientific community via manufacturing and marketing a library of over 9,000 products to laboratory fine chemicals and dehydrated culture media with emphasis on purity and service. Examples are acids & bases, adsorbents, disinfectants, indicator papers, oils, and solvents. CDH provides bio chemicals, research chemicals, laboratory reagents, various solvents, stains & indicators, and dehydrated culture media. CDH is ISO 9001 certified and CDHs’ products are in compliance with specifications of IP, BP, USP, and EP standards.
Founded in Mumbai, India in 2006, Otto Chemie Pvt. Ltd. is an ISO 9001:2015 & GMP certified chemical manufacturing company and distributor. Otto Chemie serves customers in many industries including agriculture and food processing, pharmaceuticals, oil & gas, cement, as well as educational and R&D industries. Product offerings include antibiotics, amino acids, vitamins, detergents, ionic liquids, materials science compounds, labware, oil, metal & ceramic science compounds and tools, oils, reagents, solvents.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jiangsu Victory Chemical Co., Ltd |
16.0%
|
| 2 | KANTO CHEMICAL CO.,INC. |
13.3%
|
| 3 | Merck |
12.0%
|
| 4 | Hefei TNJ Chemical Industry Co.,Ltd. |
8.7%
|
| 5 | Junsei Chemical Co.,Ltd. |
7.3%
|
| 6 | Central Drug House |
6.7%
|
| 7 | Kishida Chemical Co.,Ltd. |
6.7%
|
| 8 | Jigs chemical |
6.0%
|
| 9 | Otto Chemie Pvt. Ltd |
5.3%
|
| 10 | nacalai |
5.3%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the levulinic acid page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
Japan
|
5 | 45.5% |
|
China
|
4 | 36.4% |
|
India
|
2 | 18.2% |
