The decomposition kinetics of glucose and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural catalyzed by copper chloride were measured in small volume high-pressure vessel batch reactors

at various temperatures from 423.15 K to 463.15 K and catalyst concentration from 0 to 0.08 mol·L-1.The results showed that their conversion went up with the increase of reaction temperature and catalyst concentration

resulting in higher yield of levulinic acid.By comparing the correlation coefficients

it was confirmed that both glucose and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural decomposition are first order reaction.By using first order kinetics equation

the activation energies of desired and undesired reaction were estimated

134.65 kJ·mol-1 and 144.1 kJ·mol-1 for glucose decomposition，131.97 kJ·mol-1 and 135.18 kJ·mol-1 for 5-hydroxymethylfurfural decomposition

respectively.This work would provide important basic data not only for the exploration of reaction mechanism of glucose decomposition

but also for the development of high activity and high selectivity catalyst.