Molekula
Levulinic acid
Supplying 4,500+ customers in over 80 countries
ISO 9001:2015 & ISO 14001:2015 certified · Supplying laboratories and industry since 2000 · Listed pack sizes are a starting point — we manufacture, source and repack to the quantity you need
Levulinic acid is an organic compound with a carboxylic acid and ketone functional group, primarily used as a solvent, intermediate in pharmaceuticals, and in the production of biofuels and flavoring agents. It also serves as a starting material for nylon, synthetic rubber and plastics, and as a flavoring for foods and animal feeds. It appears as a colorless to yellowish liquid with a mild odor, miscible with water and many organic solvents. This chemical has a CAS number of 123-76-2, a molecular formula of C5H8O3, and a molecular weight of 116.12 g/mol. It should be stored at ambient conditions, with a signal word of Warning indicating moderate hazard. Molekula supplies Levulinic acid from research to bulk quantities with full documentation and ISO 9001:2015 traceability.
Example image for illustration only. Other packaging and pack sizes are available.
Pricing & pack sizes
These pack sizes aren't a limit. Molekula manufactures, sources and repacks to order — if you need 500 kg and only see 1 kg listed, . We quote from grams to multi-tonne.
Need a different size? Add the nearest pack and change the size in your basket — we price it at the same rate per unit.
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500 g — £67.00 per pack ex VAT · £80.40 inc. VAT
Need a different quantity or pack?
Tell us how much you need and when — drums, IBCs, sacks or a one-off bulk lot. We'll manufacture or source it and come back with a price.
Prices exclude VAT/sales tax and shipping.
Specifications
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Colourless to light yellow transparent liquid or crystal |
| Heavy metals | 10ppm max |
| Lactone | 1% max |
| Iron (Fe) | 10ppm max |
| Water (KF) | 1% max |
| Assay GC | 99% min |
| Sulphates (SO4)(2-) | 20ppm max |
| Colour (Gardner) | 2 Max |
| Chlorine (Cl) | 20ppm max |
Storage & handling
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Storage Temperature | Ambient |
| Flash Point | 98 °C |
Literature values
Published physical properties of the substance, not batch specifications.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Melting Point | 33 °C |
| Boiling Point | 245.5 °C |
| Solubility (other solvents) | Soluble in water, alcohol, and oil |
| pKa | pKa = 4.64 (at 18 °C) |
Source: PubChem CID 11579 (DrugBank, Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA))
Identification
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| SKU | 89968159 |
| CAS Number | 123-76-2 |
| IUPAC Name | 4-oxopentanoic acid |
| EC Number | 204-649-2 |
| Molecular Formula | C5H8O3 |
| Molecular Weight | 116.12 |
| Exact Mass | 116.0473 |
| SMILES | CC(=O)CCC(=O)O |
| InChIKey | JOOXCMJARBKPKM-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
| InChI | InChI=1S/C5H8O3/c1-4(6)2-3-5(7)8/h2-3H2,1H3,(H,7,8) |
| PubChem CID | 11579 |
| REACH Code | Y110 |
| TSCA Listed | Yes |
| HTS Code | 2918309000 |
| Tariff Code | 2918300060 |
Safety & GHS
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Corrosive
GHS05
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Health Hazard
GHS07
Hazard statements
- H302 Harmful if swallowed
- H317 May cause an allergic skin reaction
- H318 Causes serious eye damage
Precautionary statements
- P261 Avoid breathing dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray
- P280 Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection
- P301+312 IF SWALLOWED: Call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician if you feel unwell
- P303+361 IF ON SKIN (or hair): Remove immediately all contaminated clothing. Rinse with water/shower
- P304+340 IF INHALED: Remove victim to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing
- P305+351+338 IF IN EYES: Rinse with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing
Documents
Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
Available in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish.
Certificate of Analysis (CoA) by batch
Enter a lot or batch number to retrieve the CoA for that specific batch. We can generate one from spec data if no PDF is on file.
Synonyms
- 4-Ketovaleric acid
- 4-Oxopentanoic acid
- 4-Oxovaleric acid
- Acetopropionic acid
- gamma-Ketovaleric acid
- Laevulinic acid
- LEVA
- Levulic acid
- Levulinsaeure
- Pentanoic acid, 4-oxo-
Frequently asked questions
What is levulinic acid commonly used for?
Levulinic acid is primarily used as a precursor in the production of biofuels, pharmaceuticals, and as a solvent in industrial applications, including coatings and resins.
What is the chemical formula and molecular weight of levulinic acid?
The chemical formula is **C₅H₈O₃**, and the molecular weight is **116.12 g/mol**.
How should levulinic acid be stored?
Store levulinic acid in a tightly sealed container at **ambient temperature**, away from moisture and incompatible substances.
What grades of levulinic acid does Molekula supply?
Molekula supplies levulinic acid in **technical and reagent grades**, with purity levels suitable for industrial and laboratory applications.
Can Molekula supply levulinic acid in bulk quantities?
Yes, Molekula can supply levulinic acid in bulk, with quantities tailored to meet your production or research needs.
What documentation comes with a levulinic acid order?
Each order includes a **Certificate of Analysis (CoA)**, Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), and a product specification sheet.
Ready to order or need a custom pack?
Tell us the product, grade, and quantity — Molekula usually responds within one working day with pricing and lead time.