Synthesis of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural from cellulose via a two-step process in polar aprotic solvent

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers Vol. 200; pp. 529 - 535
• Main Authors: Fan, Guozhi, Wang, Yuexin, Hu, Zongxiao, Yan, Juntao, Li, Jianfen, Song, Guangsen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 15.11.2018
• Subjects: 5-Hydroxymethyl furfural; Cellulose; Glucose; Phosphotungstic acid; Two-step process; 5-Hydroxymethyl furfural; Phosphotungstic acid; Glucose; Two-step process; Cellulose
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.08.043

•The direct conversion of cellulose was effectively performed via a two-step process.•Cellulose was selectively converted to 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) and glucose.•The total yield of HMF and glucose reached up 97.0%.•No treatment was required after the first step.•Possible pathway for the direct conversion of cellulose was proposed. The synthesis of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) from cellulose via a two-step process was investigated. To optimize reaction conditions, the separate conversion of cellulose and glucose was first performed in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) via a one-step process using hosphotungstic acid (PHA) as catalyst. The direct conversion of cellulose to HMF was then performed via the two-step process. The first step and the second step were carried out in THF and the mixture solvent composed of THF/DMF, respectively. Cellulose was converted to HMF and glucose in the first step in THF. Both of cellulose and the as-formed glucose were then converted to HMF in the second step. The conversion of cellulose to HMF and glucose were significantly improved by the two-step process, and the total yield of HMF and glucose was elevated from 52.1 to 97.0%. A possible mechanism for the formation of HMF from cellulose via the two-step process was also proposed.