Glucose was converted into furans (5-hydroxymethylfurfural and 5-ethoxymethylfurfural) in the presence of AlCl3 in an ethanol-water solvent system. The system showed high activity for the conversion of glucose into furans but low activity for the subsequent formation of LAs (levulinic acid and ethyl levulinate). High furans yield of 57% with low LAs yield of 11% can be obtained at 160 degrees C within 15 min. Glucose-based disaccharides (sucrose, maltose and cellobiose) and polysaccharides (starch but not cellulose) can also be converted to furans effectively under the same condition. AlCl3 can be used to prepare furans from biomass-derived compounds in ethanol-water, a green solvent system. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.