Single-step conversion of cellulose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a versatile platform chemical

• Published in: Applied catalysis. A, General Vol. 361; no. 1; pp. 117 - 122
• Main Authors: Su, Yu, Brown, Heather M., Huang, Xiwen, Zhou, Xiao-dong, Amonette, James E., Zhang, Z. Conrad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 01.06.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: 02 PETROLEUM; 08 HYDROGEN; 09 BIOMASS FUELS; 1-Alkyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride; 1-Ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloride; 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural; BIOFUELS; BIOMASS; Catalysis; CATALYSTS; Cellobiose; CELLULOSE; Cellulose conversion; Chemistry; CHLORIDES; CrCl 2; CrCl2; CuCl 2; CuCl2; DEPOLYMERIZATION; Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory; Exact sciences and technology; FRUCTOSE; General and physical chemistry; GLUCOSE; HMF; HYDROGEN; HYDROLYSIS; Ionic liquid; Maltose; Paired metal chlorides; PETROLEUM; POLYMERS; PRODUCTION; SYNTHESIS; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; HMF; 1-Alkyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride; CrCl 2; 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural; Cellobiose; CuCl 2; 1-Ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloride; Glucose; Maltose; Cellulose conversion; Paired metal chlorides; Ionic liquid; Separation; Methyl chloride; Cellulose; Purity; Biofuel; Biomass; Depolymerization; Alkyl; Chlorides; Low temperature; Catalytic reaction; Transition element compounds; Polymer; Conversion; Fructose; Hydrolysis; Acids; Fuel; CrCl; CuCl; Catalyst

A new catalytic pathway is revealed for the rapid conversion of cellulose to sugars and further to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in a single-step process under mild temperatures (80–120 °C). Paired CuCl 2/CrCl 2 catalysts in 1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloride solvent exhibited remarkably high act...