Microwave-assisted catalytic upgrading of bio-based furfuryl alcohol to alkyl levulinate over commercial non-metal activated carbon

•Microwave-assisted alkyl levulinates production.•Furfuryl alcohol (FA) as starting material for batch production of alkyl levulinates.•Commercial activated carbon is an efficient acid catalyst system for the synthesis of alkyl levulinates.•The non stability of the activated carbon permitted to transfer heterogeneous catalysis to homogeneous catalysis.•Application to other alcohols than methanol gave lower yield of the corresponding alkyl levulinates.