Butyl levulinate is an important bio-based chemicals with diverse industrial applications. A single step conversion of bio-based furfuryl alcohol to butyl levulinate was investigated with ferric sulfate as catalyst. Process optimization of furfural alcohol conversion was conducted by response surface methodology with 86.7% average yield of butyl levulinate obtained under optimum conditions. Adding toluene further improved butyl levulinate yield to 90.7%. Reusability study showed that ferric sulfate was easily recycled and could maintain high catalytic activity after used more than three times. Structures of fresh and recycled catalysts were characterized by FT-IR and XRD. Composition analysis of liquid products and calculation of process mass balance elucidated possible reaction pathway for butyl levulinate production form furfuryl alcohol.