Bifunctional mesoporous silica solid acids for transformation of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural

In the focus on biomass valorization to biochemicals, CBRC in collaboration with Dr. Shih-Yuan Chen, Dr. Hiroyuki Tateno and Dr. Takehisa Mochizuki (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) Japan), Prof. Dr. Siwaporn Meejoo Smith (Faculty of Science Mahidol University), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Supakorn Bunyuen (Faculty of Science and Technology Thammasat University) and Ms. Manarudee Srida developed a new type of bifunctional heterogeneous catalyst (Al-SA-S15) with high stability for use in the production of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from Glucose.

The research entitled “Bifunctional mesoporous silica solid acids for transformation of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural” is published in the journal Materials Today Sustainability (Q1 Journal, JCR IF = 7.244). The article is accessible at https://lnkd.in/gSiPNUrM
The conversion of glucose to HMF is widely studied since HMF is a valuable precursor for producing fine chemicals such as γ-valerolactone, 2,5-dimethylfuran, 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), and their derivatives.
 
This study prepared a bifunctional solid acid catalysts (Al-SA-S15) comprising of aluminum (Al) as Lewis acid sites and sulfonic acid (SA) as Brønsted acid sites. The evaluation of the catalysts in the conversion of glucose to HMF were carried out using a co-solvent medium of acetone and water and attained 95% glucose conversion and 51% HMF yield, as well as a notable reusability.