The application of high temperature water to produce levoglucosan from glucose was studied. The reactions were performed using a tube reactor, and the kinetics for the decomposition Of glucose and levoglucosan in high temperature water was examined. The temperature dependence of the reaction rate of the glucose decomposition was of the Arrhenius type. In contrast, the reaction rates for the decomposition of levoglucosan decreased with the increasing temperature at the constant pressure of 25 MPa. The yields of levoglucosan were examined in the temperature range from 200 to 410 degrees C and the pressure from 5 to 25 MPa. It was found that the yields of levoglucosan increased with the decreasing pressure. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.