In this paper kinetics of xylose dehydration into furfural using acetic acid as catalyst was studied comprehensively and systematically. The reaction order of both furfural and xylose dehydration was determined and the reaction activation energy was obtained by nonlinear regression. The effect of acetic acid concentration was also investigated. Reaction rate constants were gained. Reaction rate constant of xylose dehydration is k(1) = 4.189 x 10(10)[A](0.1676) exp (-108.6x1000/RT), reaction rate constant of furfural degradation is k(2) = 1.271 x 10(4) [A](0.1375) exp (-63.413x1000/RT) and reaction rate constant of condensation reaction is k(3) = 3.4051 x 10(10)[A](0.1676) exp (-104.99x1000/RT). Based on this, the kinetics equation of xylose dehydration into furfural in acetic acid was set up according to theory of Dunlop and Furfural generating rate equation is d[F]/dt = k(1)[X](0)e(-k1t)-k(2)[F]-k(3)[X](0)e(-k1t)[F]. (C) 2015 The Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, and Chemical Industry Press. All rights reserved.