Conversion of fructose and glucose into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural with lignin-derived carbonaceous catalyst under microwave irradiation in dimethyl sulfoxide–ionic liquid mixtures

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2012-05, Vol.112, p.313-318
• Main Authors: Guo, Feng, Fang, Zhen, Zhou, Tie-Jun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural; Acids; Biomass; Catalysis; Catalysts; Chlorides; Conversion; Dehydration; Dimethyl Sulfoxide - chemistry; DMSO-[BMIM][Cl]; Fructose; Fructose - metabolism; Furaldehyde - analogs & derivatives; Furaldehyde - metabolism; Glucose; Glucose - metabolism; Imidazoles - chemistry; Ionic Liquids - chemistry; Irradiation; Jatropha; Lignin; Lignin - chemistry; Microwaves; Recycling; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.02.108

Microwave-assisted dehydration of fructose and glucose into 5-HMF using biomass-derived carbonaceous catalysts in water and [BMIN][Cl] was studied. All catalysts exhibited low catalytic activity in water with traditional electrical heating. Microwave heating greatly increased the dehydration of fructose. Both –SO3H group density and carbonization degree are the key factors for catalytic activity. Lignin-derived carbonaceous solid acid was the most active catalyst for dehydration. [Display omitted] ► Lignin-derived carbonaceous catalyst (LCC) was synthesized for the production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF). ► 5-HMF yield from fructose increased from 61% to 82% as weight ratio of DMSO/[BMIN][Cl] increased from 0 to 4/6. ► Eighty-four percent 5-HMF yield with 98% fructose conversion rate was achieved at 110°C for 10min. ► Sixty-eight percent 5-HMF yield with 99% glucose conversion rate was obtained at 160°C for 50min. ► Slight –SO3H in LCC was leached during recycles, 76% 5-HMF yield from fructose was obtained even after five recycles. 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) was successfully produced by the dehydration of fructose and glucose using lignin-derived solid acid catalyst in DMSO-[BMIM][Cl] (dimethyl sulfoxide and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride) mixtures. Six solid acid catalysts were synthesized by carbonization and sulfonation of raw biomass materials, i.e., glucose, fructose, cellulose, lignin, bamboo and Jatropha hulls. It was found that lignin-derived solid acid catalyst (LCC) was the most active one in the dehydration of sugars. LCC coupled with microwave irradiation was used for the 5-HMF production, 84% 5-HMF yield with 98% fructose conversion rate was achieved at 110°C for 10min. Furthermore, 99% glucose was converted with 68% 5-HMF yield under severer condition (160°C for 50min). LCC was recycled for five times, 5-HMF yield declined only 7%. Use of LCC combined with DMSO-[BMIM][Cl] solution and microwave irradiation is a novel method for the effective production of 5-HMF.