Biomass Derived Chemicals: Furfural Oxidative Esterification to Methyl-2-furoate over Gold Catalysts

• Published in: Catalysts Vol. 6; no. 7; p. 107
• Main Authors: Manzoli, Maela, Menegazzo, Federica, Signoretto, Michela, Marchese, Damiano
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.07.2016
• ISSN: 2073-4344; 2073-4344
• DOI: 10.3390/catal6070107

The use of heterogeneous catalysis to upgrade biomass wastes coming from lignocellulose into higher value-added chemicals is one of the most explored subjects in the prospective vision of bio-refinery. In this frame, a lot of interest has been driven towards biomass-derived building block molecules, such as furfural. Gold supported catalysts have been successfully proven to be highly active and selective in the furfural oxidative esterification to methyl-2-furoate under mild conditions by employing oxygen as benign oxidant. Particular attention has been given to the studies in which the reaction occurs even without base as co-catalyst, which would lead to a more green and economically advantageous process. The Au catalysts are also stable and quite easily recovered and represent a feasible and promising route to efficiently convert furfural to methyl-2-furoate to be scaled up at industrial level.