Molecular-sieving catalysts have the potential to promote the production of oxygenated hydrocarbons from glucose. A kinetic model for the partial dehydration of glucose to organic acids by micro- and mesoporous aluminosilicate catalysts was developed. Kinetic parameters were estimated from glucose conversion and product yield versus time data at 150 degrees C for HY-zeolite, aluminum-pillared montmorillonite, MCM-20 and MCM-41 catalyst powders of 0.5 mmol H+ g(-1) solid-acid activity, Rate constants for the partial dehydration of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and the rehydration and cleavage of HMF to formic acid and 4-oxopentanoic acid were maximized at catalyst pore diameters of 10-30 Angstrom. The final organic acid product yields were low, less than 60% of theoretical for formic acid and 10% of theoretical for 4-oxopentanoic acid, due to significant coke formation.