A series of Fe/HY zeolite catalysts with different FeCl3 weight percent (5, 10 and 15%) on HY zeolite have been synthesized in this study. All the catalysts were characterized by XRD, FESEM, N-2 physisorption, FTIR, TGA, NH3-TPD and IR-pyridine. The performance of the Fe/HY catalysts was tested in glucose to levulinic acid transformation. The amount and type of acid sites together with surface area and porosity influenced the catalytic activity. The catalyst with a large surface area, high concentration of active acid sites and appropriate ratio of Bronsted to Lewis acids seemed suitable for levulinic acid production. However, catalyst with excess Lewis acidity converted glucose into humins, but samples with high relative mesopority and low relative microporosity gave a decent levulinic acid yield. Among the catalysts tested, 10% Fe/HY catalyst exhibited the highest catalytic performance with 62% yield at 180 degrees C in 180 min. The reused catalyst exhibited constant activity for five successive runs. The experimental results demonstrated the potential of Fe/HY catalyst for biomass conversion to levulinic acid under mild process conditions. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.