TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: The step of contacting the carbohydrate source further includes the steps of forming a solution of the carbohydrate source in solvent; passing the solution through a solid phase catalyst in a column; and eluting the HMF from the column. In process (P1), the step of heating the reaction mixture further includes the steps of passing the solution through a solid phase catalyst in a column, and eluting the HMF ester. In process (P1), the HMF ester is isolated from the product mixture by a process selected from filtration, evaporation, extraction, and distillation. In process (P1), the column is heated to a temperature of 70-125 degrees C. In process (P1), the temperature at which the reaction mixture is heated is 100-140 degrees C. The pressure of the reaction in process (P2) is 400-1000 psi. In the reduction method, the pressure is 600 psi and the temperature is 170 degrees C. The method (P3) further involves collecting the eluant from the column; and passing the eluant through the column a second time to generate a tri-substituted citrate ester. The method of synthesizing levulinic acid further involves after passing the solution containing the carbohydrate through the column; collecting the eluant containing the reaction product; and after collecting the eluant, passing the eluant through the column. The method (P4) further involves after passing the solution containing the carbohydrate through the column; collecting the eluant containing the reaction product; after collecting the eluant; and passing the eluant through the column. The concentration of acetic acid in the solution is greater than about 75%. In the synthesis of HMF using fructose source, the HMF ester is deacylated with a metal oxide. The HMF is purified during the reaction by passing the solution through the column. The HMF ester is purified during the reaction by passing the solution through the column. The citrate ester is purified during the reaction by passing the solution through the column. The levulinic acid is purified during the reaction by passing the solution through the column. The levulinic ester is purified during the reaction by passing the solution through the column. The method (P5) further involves after obtaining the eluant containing the reaction product; passing the eluant through the column. Preferred Components: The solvent is N,N-dimethyl formamide (DMF). The solvent in process (P1) is a polar, aprotic solvent. ACTIVITY - Antibacterial; Antisickling; Antianemic. No biological data given.    MECHANISM OF ACTION - None given.    EXAMPLE - To a jacketed column was added slurry of Amberlyst 35 (RTM: dry acidic resin) (40 g) in N,N-dimethyl formamide (DMF). The column was heated by an oil circulating bath at 95 degrees C. The resin was washed with anhydrous DMF. The level of DMF was then lowered to the top of the resin. The column was then loaded with 150 g of 30% fructose in DMF. The fructose solution was passed slowly through the resin over a period of 1 hour two times. After work up, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) was obtained in a yield of 68%.